14 Mar 2021

Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration Mr Kabo Morwaeng says while the President has a right to invite different individuals to join his entourage on official trips, he normally travels with members of his cabinet, government officials and official security detail.

Answering a question during Minister’s Question Time in Parliament on Friday, Mr Morwaeng said those accompanying the President were normally officials who were associated with the purpose of the particular trip.

Mr Morwaeng said during President Dr Mogweetsi Masisi’s visit to donate small stock in Shakawe late last year, the head of state was accompanied by cabinet ministers, senior government officials other associated staff and guests.

He said owing to security considerations, the government did not always go into extensive detail to disclose the identity of everyone accompanying the President on his trips.

Mr Morwaeng said cabinet ministers, senior government officials and staff were a regular part of the Presidential delegation.

But, he said governing Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) functionaries did not make up such delegations, other than ministers who also serve in BDP structures, but accompany the President in their capacity as members of the government executive.

Mr Morwaeng said the BDP was not invited to the Shakawe trip and there would be no need for the party to foot the bill for some of the costs.

The minister said P8 570 was used for the accommodation for the President, while cabinet ministers and officials had other official arrangements made.

Mr Morwaeng said other than the small stock donation, the President used the trip for other engagements in the area, which he said was normal procedure since government leaders needed to appraise themselves with the conditions and needs of different parts of the country.

Okavango MP, Mr Kenny Kapinga had asked the minister to state the passenger list of travellers who were on board the BDF aircraft which transported the President to Shakawe when he went to donate a buck and a ram in the area.

He also sought to know the role of each passenger in relation to the official mission, whether it is government policy to transport members of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) in a military aircraft when they were going for party activities and if not, whether BDP members who were flying with the President paid any fare.

Mr Kapinga further asked about the accommodation costs for the President’s delegation paid for using government funds.

He also probed the minister to disclose what other Government business was conducted during the period apart from the President’s donation, and if he had any intention to cause the BDP to pay for the transportation costs of these passengers who were not part of the President’s official delegation. ends