Africa-Press – Botswana. Parliament has on Thursday approved supplementary budget estimates amounting to P856.9 million.
When presenting the budget, Minister of Finance, Ms Peggy Serame said the Presidential Directive Cab 18 (A)/2016 (e) stressed that supplementary budget requests should strictly cater for unforeseen requirements or emergencies and that such requests should be catered for by budget cuts from other areas in the existing budget.
She said it was worth noting that uncertainties still prevailed in the domestic economy, owing to various factors such as continued geo-political tensions, uneven economic performance in various jurisdictions and the effects of climate change, amongst others.
“These continue to weigh on global growth with strong negative spill-over to regional and domestic economies,” she said.
Ms Serame said the domestic economy recorded an average decline of 3.0 per cent in the first three quarters of 2023 compared to 5.5 per cent in the same period in 2022.
She attributed this slowdown to weak economic performance in the diamond trading activities due to subdued global demand.
“It is important to note that these supplementary budget proposals have been considered under the above conditions and circumstances,” she stressed.
The minister said government through Presidential Directive CAB 1A/2024 dated January 29, 2024, directed that a Special Warrant amounting to P79.6 million be issued for facilitation of the rescheduled Voters Registration process in preparation for the 2024 elections.
Among others, the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has requested a total amount of P105million to cater for the increased Ipelegeng quota, following a declaration of 2022/2023 as a severe drought year- in order to implement of some relief interventions.
Those include an increase in the Ipelegeng quota by an additional 20 000 slots to cater for the high number of beneficiaries on the waiting lists as a result of limited seasonal jobs in the arable agricultural sector.
This includes an increase in the budget for running costs (materials and tools) to cater for additional projects resulting from the increased Ipelegeng quota.
On the other hand, Ministry of Defence and Security has also requested for the sum of P115.2 million to pay Botswana’s contribution towards SADC Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC) following the endorsement of the Assessed Contribution by SADC Extra Ordinary Summit in November 2023. The funds are intended to support piece keeping operations at DRC, which include allowances, food and equipment.
Other budget requests are to cover for the Ministry of Transport and Public Works budgetary shortfalls under Agency Fees to BURS for revenue collection services on behalf of the Department of Road Transport Services at P29.8 million.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also requested an amount of P94.5million to cater for budget shortfalls in various accounts at Diplomatic Missions abroad.
However, Ms Serame said the ministry was experiencing financial constraints at the missions due to increases in rates of utilities, rise in prices and unfavourable exchange rates, among others.
She said additional funding was also requested under Headquarters to pay for shortfalls in the insurance accounts, cover costs of state visits as well as shortfall in the contribution to the African Union.
She said the Ministry of Education and Skills Development requested for additional funding amounting to P268.3 million
“The request is to cater for augmentation of staff salaries under four parastatals namely, Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN), University of Botswana (UB), Botswana Open University (BOU), and Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST).”
Furthermore, the minister said the requested amount would augment funds for invigilation and course work for the 2023 cycle as well as to pay for printing related costs incurred by Botswana Examination Council (BEC) following leakage of Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Education (BCGSE) examination papers.
“Other budget requests would cater for ministries to pay basic salary arrears arising from the Court of Appeal Judgment on multiple-grading and multiple-titling at Labour and Home Affairs- and Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture.”
When supporting the supplementary budget proposals, legislators called for strengthening of expenditure control measures and ensure that supplementary estimates covered unforeseen emergencies only.
DAILYNEWS
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