Matambo defends BDF spending

Finance and Economic Development Minister Kenneth Matambo, has defended his ministry and government position for allocating Botswana Defence Force a huge budget. Moving that the Appropriation Bill No.1 of 2018/19 be read for the second time as well as responding to points raised by Members Parliament of Parliament when debating the budget speech, Matambo told Parliament that MPs always ask who we are preparing to attack when we give so much money to BDF. “I think that is a wrong question. I am not saying that all money should be given to the BDF or that Members should not query the quantum and so forth. I think you should be informed where the money is going to be used because you are the ones who really approve this expenditure.

But I think if we approach it from the point of whom we want to attack I myself will say it is a wrong question, for as long as I understand the mandate of the BDF. That is precisely that it is a defence force. Therefore I think the right question to ask is in the event that Botswana were to be attacked does the BDF have the capability to defend the nation of Botswana?” He said that is what is paramount, and if requests are justified in those terms by the BDF and the ministry concerned that is what “we are interested in to defend this country to make sure that no other country ever dreams of attacking Botswana.

Then I think that is enough justification to give them the resources such that they are able to defend us in the event that we are attacked.” Commenting on corruption, Matambo said he did not mention it in the 2018 statement but that it was there in the 2017 statement. “It does not mean I will always be talking about it all the time because sometimes these things are boring. But I want to make it clear that from my point of view, not withstanding that the word “corruption” did not appear on my speech, it is my point of view that corruption is an evil that must be rooted out at all costs.” However, Matambo said he was happy that Transparency International has ranked Botswana as the least corrupt country in Africa, but advised MPs that this calls for enhanced vigilance to maintain it.