12 Mar 2024

The state of security and public safety has a considerable bearing on the development and integrity of Botswana, Minister  of Defense and Security, Mr Kagiso  Mmusi has said .

Presenting the ministry’s 2024/25 budget proposals, Mr Mmusi said  a pre-requisite for the prospects of achieving prosperity for all by 2036 as enshrined in Vision 2036 under the Governance, Peace and Security pillar was key.

As such, Mr Mmusi said the ministry’s mandate was aligned to the set national priorities for the 2024/25 financial year as outlined in the Second Transitional Development Plan (TNDP), National Transformation Strategy and the Reset and Reclaim Agenda.

He thus said the ministry was requesting for an amount of over P10.6 billion for the next financial year under the recurrent budget. which he said was an increase of  P642.7 million  or 6.4 percent of the 2023/24 financial year’s authorised expenditure.

The requested budget, he said would assist the ministry to provide safety and protection through implementation of relevant national policies and programmes required to achieve peace and stability in the country.

“The requested amount will cater for personnel emoluments and other operational expenses which include among others, maintenance of the existing infrastructure, research and investigation, human capital development, operationalis ation of the Military Veterans Unit and office rental,” Mr Mmusi said.

He  said an amount of P5.9 billion was requested for Botswana Defence Force, which reflected  an increase of P1.9 million or 3.4 per cent of the 2023/24 approved estimates. The minister said the proposed amount would cater for personnel emoluments and operational expenses, which included among others, maintenance of aircrafts, maintenance of the existing infrastructure and operations by the Botswana contingent under the Southern African Development Community Mission in Mozambique.

Additionally, Mr Mmusi said the ministry requested for an amount of P3.6 billion under the Botswana Police Service, which was an increase of a sum of P325.7 million or 9.9 per cent of the 2023/24 revised budget.

“The amount will cater for salaries and allowances, replacement and maintenance of vehicles, creation of additional 1 000 positions and other related costs in enhancing law enforcement,” he said.

The minister said an amount of P894.4 million was requested under the Botswana Prison Service, an amount. which he said represented an increase of P74.3 million or 9 per cent of the 2023/24 approved budget.

He said the budget increase would cater for operational expenses for the Prison Service including procurement of the newly branded uniform and replacement of vehicles.

He further said an amount of P41.4 million was for the operationalisation of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) while P15.7 million was for the weapons management authority.

With regard to the ministry’s developmental budget proposals, Mr Mmusi requested an amount of P2.7 billion to be spent on the ministry headquarters as well as BDF, Botswana Police Services and Prisons Services infrastructure projects, mainly accommodation facilities.

He said the BDF infrastructure projects would include part-payment for housing units in Sarona, as well as construction and maintenance of other infrastructure projects.

Mr Mmusi said an amount of P1.1 billion or 54 per cent was requested for the enhancement of air capability, which include airlifters and VIP transporters, as well as maintenance of the existing aircraft fleet. He said an amount of P458.3 million or 21.3 per cent would be shared among vehicles, defence and communications equipment projects.

Mr Mmusi said the ministry was requesting for an amount of P490.9 million to finance police facilities, procurement of fleet expansion and police telecommunications during the financial year 2024/2025.

He  further  said the ministry requested for an amount of P110.2 million under Botswana Prison Service.

“From the requested amount, P65.3 million is to cover for implementation of on-going projects which include acquisition of staff houses, introduction of case management, communication equipment as well as installation of standby generators at various prisons and  consultancy on the establishment of prison air wing,” he said.

He said an amount of P38.7 million would be utiliSed on three ongoing development manager model projects, which included construction of a security wing, farm and staff Houses at Sepopa, relocation of Kasane prison and construction of staff houses at Boro, Tshane and Bainesdrift Prisons. ENDs