27 Jul 2020

Botswana Defence Force commander, Lt Gen. Placid Segokgo says the deployment of BDF personnel on the fight against COVID-19 outbreak has put a lot of strain on the BDF coffers. 

 Lt Gen. Segokgo echoed these sentiments during his appearance before Parliament Accounts Committee on Friday.

 He said the army had already expanded key operational financial accounts as they had been an increase in military spending during the COVID -9 outbreak at check point  operations and routine patrols.

He highlighted that a lot of funds had also been disbursed to the anti-poaching campaigns, thus decried that the army could face serious challenge in further recurrent spending, particularly on fleet maintenance and procurement of perishable food for troops on operational deployments.

 He said the fatigue on the BDF personnel during COVID-19 operations had also taken its toll on the troops by degrading their alertness on the ground.

 The pandemic outbreak, he said, had also negatively impacted the BDF development budget as some development projects on National Development Plan 11 could be shelved.

“The BDF was hopeful that the NDP 11 budget was to address issues pertaining to the improvement of conditions of service, particularly focusing on areas related to staff housing and workplace infrastructure development,” he said.

 He noted that the proposed procurement of over 4 000 staff houses in Ghanzi was also halted as a result of the financial constrains due to COVID-19.

 He said NDP 11 was also to upgrade certain capabilities in line with artillery and feet upgrades, hence stated that uninterrupted implementation of NDP 11 would assist the BDF to achieve some significant capabilities and gain the desired combat power.

 Lt Gen. Segokgo said one of the key mandates of the BDF was to ensure air policing, which was a costly operation that should never be compromised.

 “Airspace users are required to pay for air navigation charges, whose purpose is to finance the services provided by the country they are flying above in order to ensure the flights’ safety and efficiency, thus it’s important that the BDF secures the safety of Botswana’s skies,” he said.

Furthermore, Lt Gen. Segokgo applauded the BDF personnel for the noble gesture they undertook by donating to the COVID-19 Relief Fund. 

He said the donation process was done voluntarily within the BDF obligation of corporate social responsibility and military values enshrined within their value system based on the ‘Botho’ bedrock.

He noted that the BDF personnel response to government plea towards the donation to the COVID-19 fund was humbling and was a clear testimony to the army’s commitment to serve the nation. Ends