14 Jul 2022

A bill seeking to establish a standing committee on the remuneration for political leadership, members of Ntlo Ya Dikgosi and specified offices was on Wednesday passed to the committee stage in Parliament.

The Standing Committee on Remuneration (Members of the National Assembly, Councillors, Ntlo ya Dikgosi and Specified Offices) Bill of 2022 which has 17 clauses was brought to Parliament by Minister for State President, Mr Kabo Morwaeng earlier this week.

Mr Morwaeng said bill wanted to transfer the responsibility of determining salaries and allowances for those offices from the National Assembly to a standing committee as per recommendations of the 2018 presidential commission.

The bill was debated on Tuesday and Wednesday and received unanimous support from MPs.

Mahalapye East MP, Mr Yandani Boko on Wednesday called for an increase in salaries of dikgosi, saying they were paid little. Mr Boko also asked for an improvement of conditions of service of dikgosi. He asked for provision of official vehicles to councillors.

“We shouldn’t just look at increase of salaries. We should also look at other conditions of work especially for councillors,” said the MP.

Supporting the bill, Gaborone North MP, Mr Mpho Balopi said the salaries of political officers in Botswana were low compared to other countries. He called for better resourcing of political officers so that they could serve society effectively. He welcomed the move to have a standing committee to ensure good conditions of service of political leaders and dikgosi.

Vice President Mr Slumber Tsogwane said a standing committee responsible for determining the salaries and conditions of service of politicians and dikgosi was the better option instead of the minister proposing such increase through a bill in Parliament.

Bobonong MP, Mr Taolo Lucas was however of the view that the National Assembly Speaker should be consulted when appointing the committee. Mr Lucas also said the bill should be clear about which people qualified for appointment into the committee.

Thanking MPs for the support, Mr Morwaeng clarified that ‘specified offices’ referred to the chairperson of the Public Service Commission, Attorney General, Auditor General, Secretary to the Independent Electoral Commission and the Director of Public Prosecutions. “They are appointed under the Constitution and their functions are under the Constitution. They are different to other public officers who operate under the Public Service Act,” clarified the minister. Ends