07 Feb 2022

The P16.4 billion development budget proposal for 2022/23 financial year is aligned to both the Economic Recovery Transformation Plan (ERTP) and the Reset Agenda.

Out of the amount, about P4 billion will go towards ERTP projects, P1.13 billion to digital transition, P2 billion - saving  lives from COVID-19, P664 million - value chain development and P1.5 billion - human capital development.

Presenting the proposal in Parliament yesterday, Minister of Finance and Economic Development Ms Peggy Serame said it showed a P1.76 billion  or 12 per cent increase over the previous year’s.

Minister Serame said priority was given to ongoing projects, refurbishment and maintenance of existing facilities and strategic those geared towards economic recovery and growth as well as sustainable employment.

However, social protection programmes such as Ipelegeng, poverty eradication, Self Help Housing Agency, destitute housing, LIMID and constituency community projects had been maintained, she said..

In an effort to improve water supply and management, Ms Serame said the largest share of the proposal, about P5 billion,  had been allocated to the Ministry of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services.

Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development gets the second largest share at P2 billion for the continued implementation of social protection programmes, procurement of tablets for primary schools and constituency community projects.

Some P1.87 billion has been allocated to the Ministry of Transport and Communication for implementation of major roads projects including those under ERTP.

The defence, justice and security ministry takes the fourth largest allocation at P1.68 million for provision of infrastructure, vehicles and defence and communication equipment for Botswana Defence Force, Botswana Police Service and Department of Prisons and Rehabilitation Services.

The fifth largest share amounting to P997.22 million goes to Ministry of Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration for the provision of entertainment industry infrastructure, Orapa House Technology Park and ICT projects undertaken by SmartBots.

Ms Serame said the funds would also cater for poverty eradication and HIV/AIDS programmes.

Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security takes the sixth largest share of P959 million which will cater for the revamped ISPAAD programme.

The budget, she said, would also continue to support projects such as small stock, piggeries, poultry and dairy production as well as other LIMID programmes to facilitate value chains.

The seventh largest share, at approximately P937 million, was budgeted for  Ministry of Basic Education to cater for school digitisation initiative in order to drive the transformation of Botswana into a knowledge-based economy, she said.

Ms Serame said the remaining P2.69 billion would be shared among the rest of ministries for major infrastructure maintenance projects, staff housing as well as poverty alleviation scheme.

Other projects covered under the budget include electrification and network extension for 107 villages, innovation and research funds,  research capacity building as well as e-service resuscitation in order to support digitalisation for effective service delivery and business facilitation. BOPA