Parliament approves over P2 billion supplementary funding
Parliament has passed an over P2 billion supplementary funding requested by the Minister of Finance as contained in Financial Paper No.2 amid controversy in a one-way debate after all Opposition Members present walked out.
The MPs walked out to protest what they said was the unresolved formation of the Parliamentary Committees including the Finance and Estimates Committee of Parliament which forms the core of input in the preparation of the request at hand.
The Opposition MPs argued that contrary to the stipulated procedures the matter should have been brought before the Finance and Estimates Committee of Parliament.
By walking out, the opposition felt the action would not only embarrass the ruling Botswana Democratic Party but would also lead to parliamentary proceedings collapsing due to lack of quorum as a good number of the BDP members were not present.
In fact, the strategy appeared to be working as for some time; the proceedings were indeed suspended, while the opposition members stood in front of the tea room re-strategising. Meanwhile, BDP mobilised their members who, as Fate would have it, arrived and the debate continued.
The walk out enabled the speaker to continue with proceedings where BDP members led by MP for Gaborone Central, Tumisang Mangwegape – Healy whom the BDP has appointed chairperson of the Finance and Estimates Committee of Parliament - took turns debating until MP for Thamaga, Motaosane moved that the debate be closed.
In her presentation Minister Peggy Serame told parliament that her ministry received her “received requests for supplementary funding totalling P2 075 860 790 under the Recurrent Budget from various Ministries and Departments”.
She said following thorough assessment of the requests, an amount of P2 022 558 540 is proposed for approval. The bulk of this amount totalling P1 339 131 510 or 66.2 percent is to pay for the shortfall in the provision for salaries arising from the adjustment of public servants’ salaries by five percent effective 1st April 2022.
This adjustment was announced in June 2022 following an agreement with the labour unions after the budgeting exercise had been concluded. She said despite efforts by Ministries and Departments to absorb the increase within their approved budgets, others could not entirely afford to do so on account of constrained budgets.
A further sum of P683 427 030 is requested to cover, inter alia, overtime, allowances, external travel for critical and statutory meetings and service charges at Parliament; government medical aid contribution arrears, outsourced services and service charges at Ministry of Health.
The amount also includes legal costs and service charges at Administration of Justice; outstanding legal costs and compensation under the Attorney General’s Chambers; transfers, transportation and subsistence costs for external travel and State visits under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; workmen’s compensation, temporary assistance, overtime, service charges, postal charges and agency fees at Ministry of Transport and Public Works; computer systems consumables, government internet and leased lines at the Ministry of Communications, Knowledge and Technology, as well aviation fuel and lubricants, food, service charges, postal charges, rental, recording and visual aid equipment, computer systems consumables and rations at Ministry of Defence and Security.
These shortfalls are mainly attributed to the significant increase in the global commodity prices, due to disrupted production and trade of several commodities.
The details of the proposed amounts include, Parliament's request of an amount of P543 060 to pay for the shortfall in provision for salaries following adjustment of salaries.
A further P10 122 520 to cover shortfalls in overtime, external travel, service charges and allowances, which arose due to an increase in parliamentary business after normalising activities to pre-COVID-19 era.
It also includes the Ministry for State President requests for additional funding amounting to P40 247 540 to meet shortfall in salaries following salary adjustment to public servants.
For the same reason, the Ministry of Finance requests P31 646 340, the Ministry of Agriculture requests an amount of P115 268 590, the Ministry of Trade and Industry requests an additional sum of P9 781 830, Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development requests an amount of P106 432 800 under the Revenue Support Grant (RSG), the Ministry of Health requests additional funds amounting to P591 669 000.
A further sum of P90 440 600 is requested to cover shortfalls under the medical aid accounts for both central government, councils and land board employees.