- Gov’t Fleet management office blocks departments from accessing fuel stations - Services, businesses in jeopardy - Health ministry departments lead the bill chart - State President department commits to settling bill
Business and services by most of the government departments and ministries are in jeopardy as they have been denied fuel and pool services at all Government Fleet Management (GFM) stations.
The ministries and department are struggling to settle their bills for fuel and pool services for the billing period of April 2021 to February 2024. About 40 government departments and ministries were eligible for blocking from accessing such services by the 17th July 2024.
There was a commotion in most of the institutions as they had to come up with ways of paying the debt or at least give assurance to the GFM that they will either settle the bill or pay in part. As per the documents seen by this publication, by the 17th of July 2024 the total amount owed was P222, 022, 580.80.
As there has been an outcry on service delivery due to unavailability of motor vehicles, the situation might worsen as most departments will not be able to access the fuel stations.
According to a Savingram from Government Fleet Management, Acting General Manager, Raphel Ramatu dated 19th July 2024, the 40 mentioned ministries and departments were to be denied fuel and pool services at all government Fleet Management stations effective Monday 22nd July 2024 until “they have settled their bills with GFM headquarters”.
He explained that this is on account that they have rendered service to them in the past without payment. Their ministry head offices are already aware of the outstanding amounts due for payment, Ramatu said.
Health Ministry Corporate Services department owed the highest amount at P82, 950, 482.59. It has paid P5,000, 000 and now has an outstanding amount of P77, 950, 482.59. It was followed by Botswana Police which now has a balance of P21, 823, 611.14.
This week, Ramatu revealed through another Savingram that there are some departments that have committed to clear their debt by today (Friday) while others stated that as soon as possible.
In a Savingram dated 22nd July 2024 addressed to all GFM Regional Managers and GFM Workshop Managers, Ramatu noted that the Ministry of Educations and Skills Development has an outstanding bill of P1,558, 560. 27, Secondary Education department- Corporate Services P5, 37, 967.40 and Skills Development Department P1 412, 111.36 and have committed to clearing their outstanding bills by 26th July 2024. "Please allow to fuel vehicles and also grant them access to Pool services."
Ramatu released another Savingram on Tuesday this week to the effect that other departments that committed to clearing their bills as soon as possible are State House with a balance of P493, 255.07), Office of the President P4, 593, 722.33, Information Services P609, 432.05, Broadcasting Services P995, 761.66, Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime- DCEC P1,205, 002.39, Directorate of Intelligence and Security-DIS P1,081,433.01 and Department of Prisons and Rehabilitation P6,470,366.18.
The ministries and department are struggling to settle their bills for fuel and pool services for the billing period of April 2021 to February 2024. About 40 government departments and ministries were eligible for blocking from accessing such services by the 17th July 2024.
There was a commotion in most of the institutions as they had to come up with ways of paying the debt or at least give assurance to the GFM that they will either settle the bill or pay in part. As per the documents seen by this publication, by the 17th of July 2024 the total amount owed was P222, 022, 580.80.
As there has been an outcry on service delivery due to unavailability of motor vehicles, the situation might worsen as most departments will not be able to access the fuel stations.
According to a Savingram from Government Fleet Management, Acting General Manager, Raphel Ramatu dated 19th July 2024, the 40 mentioned ministries and departments were to be denied fuel and pool services at all government Fleet Management stations effective Monday 22nd July 2024 until “they have settled their bills with GFM headquarters”.
He explained that this is on account that they have rendered service to them in the past without payment. Their ministry head offices are already aware of the outstanding amounts due for payment, Ramatu said.
Health Ministry Corporate Services department owed the highest amount at P82, 950, 482.59. It has paid P5,000, 000 and now has an outstanding amount of P77, 950, 482.59. It was followed by Botswana Police which now has a balance of P21, 823, 611.14.
This week, Ramatu revealed through another Savingram that there are some departments that have committed to clear their debt by today (Friday) while others stated that as soon as possible.
In a Savingram dated 22nd July 2024 addressed to all GFM Regional Managers and GFM Workshop Managers, Ramatu noted that the Ministry of Educations and Skills Development has an outstanding bill of P1,558, 560. 27, Secondary Education department- Corporate Services P5, 37, 967.40 and Skills Development Department P1 412, 111.36 and have committed to clearing their outstanding bills by 26th July 2024. "Please allow to fuel vehicles and also grant them access to Pool services."
Ramatu released another Savingram on Tuesday this week to the effect that other departments that committed to clearing their bills as soon as possible are State House with a balance of P493, 255.07), Office of the President P4, 593, 722.33, Information Services P609, 432.05, Broadcasting Services P995, 761.66, Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime- DCEC P1,205, 002.39, Directorate of Intelligence and Security-DIS P1,081,433.01 and Department of Prisons and Rehabilitation P6,470,366.18.
