01 Mar 2020

Minister of Finance and Economic Development says government is concerned about performance of a Government Accounting and Budgeting System (GABS).

Responding to comments by Members of Parliament on the ministry’s 2020/2021 financial year budget proposal, which was subsequently approved on Thursday, Dr

Thapelo Matsheka told Parliament that the system was not functioning as expected.
However, he said this year a further improvement would be undertaken to improve its efficiency and reliability.

That was in response to Francistown West Member of Parliament, Mr Ignatius Moswaane who had expressed concern about the constant unavailability of GABS.

Mr Moswaane argued that constant unavailability of the system negatively affected business owners.

He said the system threatened economic growth as some businesses had to wait long to receive payments from government.

In other issues, MP Moswaane called for establishment of a commercial court to speed up cases against the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Board (PPADB).

MP Moswaane also wondered how government departments and ministries were located at the Gaborone Central Business District (CBD) while it was supposed to be a commercial hub, adding that this also milked national coffers.

Palapye legislator, Mr Onneetse Ramogapi, said there were many vacant posts, which affected service delivery.

He called for re-establishment of a glass project in Palapye saying it promised to add value to the economy and create much needed jobs.

In his opinion, it was wrong for ministers to draft budgets, debate them in Parliament and approve them.

Dr Kesitegile Gobotswang of Sefhare-Ramokgonami said staff members in Martins Drift did not have adequate accommodation, forcing some to stay in Lerala.
Shashe West MP, Mr Fidelis Molao said there was need to train people on tax issues and further called for establishment of a collateral registry.

Selebi Phikwe West MP, Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse, said there should be data capture machines to enable the Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS) to monitor transactions since some businesses under paid taxes.

MP Keorapetse also rejected increase of hidden taxes in the form of levies and service fees, arguing that Batswana were already burdened by other challenges such as black tax taking care of unemployed relatives.

MP Keorapetse also said sanitary pads should be exempted from tax, adding a wealth tax should be encouraged, where people acquiring luxurious goods paid higher rates.
MP Keorapetse said government vehicles should be insured since drivers were surcharged when involved in accidents.

For his part, Tati East MP, Dr Douglas Letsholathebe said introduction of e-filing of tax returns was a good initiative because it allowed people to file their taxes without leaving their offices and homes.

He said e-procurement was also a welcome development saying paper work was cumbersome, expensive and not good for the environment.

Dr Letsholathebe however called for the improvement of data collection by Statistics Botswana, which Minister Matsheka also expressed concern about data availability at the organisation.

Jwaneng-Mabutsane MP, Mr Mephato Reatile expressed concern that it took less time to get a vehicle loan than a mortgage and that seemed to encourage people not to invest in property.

On one hand, MP Reatile argued that BURS should be allowed to retain a certain percentage of funds they collected for their everyday use.

Maun West MP, Mr Dumelang Saleshando said there were inefficiencies in spending across government ministries as such it took long for tenderers to be paid.

He also said there had never been a year without GABS system going down yet government was speaking about Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). ENDS