06 Feb 2024

The Ministry for State President proposed recurrent budget which has increased by 18.6 per cent will support the ministry’s mandate of organising and coordinating government business as well as safeguarding and promoting good governance.

Delivering budget proposals for the 2024/2025 financial year in Gaborone on Monday, the Minister of Finance Ms Peggy Serame said the ministry was apportioned P2.74 billion, a provision that would cater for copyright and author fees, and expected rise in the number of freelancers and broadcasting services following the introduction of more television channels.

Other fees would go towards conducting special external investigations by the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) and carrying out National AIDS and Health Promotion Agency operations.

She said the proposed budget allocation for the Ministry of Transport and Public Works which amounts to P2.09 billion, would cater for the replacement of government fleet at P430.01 million.

The minister said the amount would also provide for operations of parastatals under this ministry including wages and benefits for the recently formed Catalyst Project Team.

The proposed P1.56 billion recurrent budget for the Ministry of Agriculture is expected to support increased domestic food production while the budget will also be channelled towards initiatives like Temo Letlotlo and Thuo Letlotlo.

It will also cover subventions to the National Agricultural Research and Development Institute, contain the spread of Foot and Mouth Disease, maintenance of existing facilities including Artificial Insemination Camps as well as plant and equipment and computer systems such as the Botswana Information Traceability System.

She went on to say funds would operationalise the recently formed Department of Aquaculture and Apiculture to promote fish and bee production.

The minister also proposed P1.06 billion for the Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture to cover priority budget lines, including arts, sport, youth, gender and cultural activities.

Further, the provision will cater for grants to oversight bodies such as Botswana National Youth Council (BNYC) and National Women's Exposition, the minister explained.

She also said the proposed budget allocation for the Ministry of Lands and Water Affairs which amounts to P1.02 billion will pay for expenses related to land and water administration as well as systems maintenance. The proposed budget will also cover subventions to Land Boards, which account for 54.0 per cent of the proposed ministerial budget.

Minister Serame noted that the remainder of the proposed ministerial recurrent budget allocation of P6.78 billion would be shared by the remaining ministries and Extra-Ministerial departments. ENDS