The Minister of Finance and Economic Development- Honourable Dr. Thapelo Matsheka “there is no desire not to be transparent about the Budget Preparation Process.” by him and his ministry.” He said this when entailing how the National Development Plan budget increased by one hundred and thirty- eight million pula (P138 million); from P101 341 000 000 a proposed P101 479 200 000.
Below is a breakdown of the additional P138 million proposed addition as presented by the minister yesterday in Parliament;
(a) Ministry of Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration (and not the Office of the President) – P67,214,446: This constitutes the proposed TEC increase of National Aids and Health Promotion Agency (NAHPA) programme. This proposed increase in the NDP 11 TEC was offset by a transfer TEC for HIV/AIDS programme under the Ministry of Health And Wellness following the transfer of NAPHA to this Ministry.
(b) Ministry of Finance and Economic Development – P110,000,000 : The TEC of MFED Statistical Survey and
Studies programme was not sufficient to cater for the 2021 Population and Housing Census, hence the proposed increase.
(c) Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development – P24,100,000 : There is a proposed TEC increase of P3,100,000 in order to provide for the Botswana Government’s contribution towards library project implemented by the Robert and Sarah Rothschild Foundation. In addition, there is a proposed TEC increase for MYSC Infrastructure by P21, 000,000 for the Francistown Stadium. Other reasons for the variance are contained in Annexure 1 to be distributed with this statement.
The minister was responding to the Member of Parliament for Jwaneng/Mabutsane- Honourable Mephato Reatile’s allegations that the minister has increased the NDP budget without authority of the national assembly. He said this when debating the 2021/2022 budget speech by Dr. Matsheka.
Mr. Speaker, there are several issues raised by Honourable Reatile in his debate. In this Statement, I want to focus on one; which is the allegation that I have changed the Total Estimated Cost of NDP 11, without authority, which he described as “irregular, unprocedural, and unethical”.
Dr. Thapelo Matsheka
