- Ruling party prepares for its President, Vice President families - Spouses, children to get untaxed salaries - President Masisi’s greed is on steroids - Leader of Opposition Keorapetse - This is rather obscene and amounts to looting - Saleshando
Government has stirred debate over two controversial Bills that are likely to adversely affect the public purse given the country’s economic status.
The Bills are the Former President (Pension and Retirement Benefits) and the Former Vice President (Pension and Retirement Benefits) Bill which are to be presented in Parliament during the ongoing Winter Session by State President Minister Kabo Morwaeng.
Leader of Opposition, Dithapelo Keorapetse described the two Bills as “daylight robbery” while President of Botswana Congress Party (BCP) Dumelang Saleshando said they clearly point to President Masisi’s “deep desire to convert as many public resources into his family assets”.
The Presidents (Pensions and Retirement Benefits) Bill proposes several key changes. Where "dependent child" include children under 18 years of age who are born out of wedlock but adopted according to the Adoption of Children Act, and financially dependent on the President.
It specifies benefits for the spouse of a former President, ensuring they receive a tax-free monthly pension and other benefits. The Bill also allows dependent children of former Presidents to receive benefits in their own right and not just when the surviving spouse dies. The Bill also proposed amendments to allow appropriate authorities to determine the number of security officers for a former President and to grant motor vehicles for the retired President, their spouse and their office.
Under the proposed provisions, a former President would be entitled to a tax-free monthly pension equivalent to their salary at the time they left office or 80 percent of the incumbent President’s salary, whichever is greater. Additionally, the former President, their spouse and dependent children, will be entitled to medical insurance and evacuation services.
They will also receive two sedans, one four-wheel drive vehicle, and a pick-up van, with an additional sedan provided for the spouse and one for the office of the former President. For surviving spouses and dependent children, the Bill proposes that if a President dies in office, the surviving spouse and children will receive a monthly pension at 50 percent of what the President would have received if they had retired.
Where the former President dies after leaving office, the surviving spouse and children will receive 50 percent of the pension that the President was receiving. These survivors would continue to be entitled to the benefits specified in the Act's Schedule. On funeral benefits the former president, former vice president and their spouses will be accorded state funeral benefits.
The Former Vice President (Pension and Retirement Benefits) Bill at Clause 3 of the Bill limits the payment of pension such that a person who held office as Vice President before the 5th November, 2019 will not be paid on account of that former vice President having already benefited from a pension or gratuity under Ministers and National Assembly Gratuities and Pensions Act. The Clause further limits the payment of pension to a surviving spouse and dependent child.
Where the former Vice President dies after leaving office, the surviving spouse and children will receive 50 percent of the pension that the President was receiving. These survivors would continue to be entitled to the benefits specified in the Act's schedule.
“The pension and other benefits conferred by this Act shall be a charge on the Consolidated Fund,” the Bill says. The former Vice President will be entitled to five motor vehicles, six security officers, three drivers and one secretary. The former Vice President will also get medical insurance together with spouse and dependent child. They will also be entitled to medical evacuation.
Leader of Opposition, Dithapelo Keorapetse described the two Bills as “daylight robbery”. He said the proposed law for the President retirement package is a clear sign that President Masisi’s greed is on steroids and that he has absolutely no iota of decency. The law, he said, must be rejected as it is embarrassing, unreasonable and a huge cost to taxpayers.
“Batswana cannot pay for the President, his spouse upon his demise and then an unlimited number of children born in and out of wedlock and those that are adopted. The President exempts himself and his family from tax when workers with slave wages pay tax.
“It is simply wrong! President Masisi has long repurposed the state to suit his own interests and those of his family and business associates,” Keorapetse said in an interview this week. He indicated that as the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) in Parliament they are not surprised at all by the Bill because President Masisi has exuded greed since he ascended to the high office of President.
He has allocated himself a State Farm, he recently sponsored a law to pay himself a constituency allowance when he has no constituency and is taken care of by the state including transportation, accommodation and food,
Keorapetse, who doubles as MP for Selibe Phikwe West, slammed. He said Masisi has set up numerous commercial ventures and has partnered with business-people who do business with government, people who are known to be involved in unfair business practices.
On the former Vice President Bill, Keorapetse said it could also be that Vice President Slumber Tsogwane is enticed to leave or that the ruling party senses defeat at the polls and that is why they are securing the future of the Vice President through a retirement package for a former Vice President.
“It is wrong to use the state to address purely partisan issues like succession battles or plans. The package is also unreasonable and exorbitant for the taxpayer.”
According to Keorapetse, Batswana must reject this unprecedented bonanza for the President, his wife and children/dependents and his Vice in a country afflicted by unemployment, poverty, income and wealth inequalities and so much corruption.
He indicated that the government has rejected calls to have fair entitlement guarantee scheme or unemployment benefit to secure the future of workers whenever they are unemployed for whatever reason. They have failed to enact better retrenchment policies and schemes and dismally failed to provide better pensions for soldiers and civil servants who continue to retire into poverty, he said.
President of Botswana Congress Party (BCP), Dumelang Saleshando said there is insurmountable evidence pointing to President Masisi’s deep desire to convert as many public resources into his family assets. He told this publication that the more Batswana keep quiet as he (Masisi) inappropriately accumulates wealth for his family using the office he holds, the greater the desire to take more.
“He converted a government farm into his own, Botswana kept quiet. His family members who had no business interest before he ascended to the high office have become instant millionaires through government tenders, the nation kept quiet.
“He amended the law to pay himself a constituency allowance that former presidents never desired for, and we kept quiet. He took over land in the Delta to construct a holiday home for his use and the nation remained silent,” Saleshando lashed out.
Saleshando who is also MP for Maun West pointed out that Masisi is planning for life after Presidency and wants more national resources to accord him the comfort he and his family desire. He said the Presidents Pension and Retirement Benefits Amendment Bill should be seen as insensitive and blatant theft by the President and his family.
He said many Batswana that have worked hard all their lives are without pensions, save for the paltry government old age pension.
“Many Batswana working in retail shops and other profitable sectors that drive our economy do not have pensions because government has decided not to introduce legislation for compulsory pensions.
“Masisi only cares about himself and his family. It has now become a culture for the BDP that as and when a President approaches the end of their term, the laws dealing with their pension is amended to meet their personal preferences for their pension.”
The Bills are the Former President (Pension and Retirement Benefits) and the Former Vice President (Pension and Retirement Benefits) Bill which are to be presented in Parliament during the ongoing Winter Session by State President Minister Kabo Morwaeng.
Leader of Opposition, Dithapelo Keorapetse described the two Bills as “daylight robbery” while President of Botswana Congress Party (BCP) Dumelang Saleshando said they clearly point to President Masisi’s “deep desire to convert as many public resources into his family assets”.
The Presidents (Pensions and Retirement Benefits) Bill proposes several key changes. Where "dependent child" include children under 18 years of age who are born out of wedlock but adopted according to the Adoption of Children Act, and financially dependent on the President.
It specifies benefits for the spouse of a former President, ensuring they receive a tax-free monthly pension and other benefits. The Bill also allows dependent children of former Presidents to receive benefits in their own right and not just when the surviving spouse dies. The Bill also proposed amendments to allow appropriate authorities to determine the number of security officers for a former President and to grant motor vehicles for the retired President, their spouse and their office.
Under the proposed provisions, a former President would be entitled to a tax-free monthly pension equivalent to their salary at the time they left office or 80 percent of the incumbent President’s salary, whichever is greater. Additionally, the former President, their spouse and dependent children, will be entitled to medical insurance and evacuation services.
They will also receive two sedans, one four-wheel drive vehicle, and a pick-up van, with an additional sedan provided for the spouse and one for the office of the former President. For surviving spouses and dependent children, the Bill proposes that if a President dies in office, the surviving spouse and children will receive a monthly pension at 50 percent of what the President would have received if they had retired.
Where the former President dies after leaving office, the surviving spouse and children will receive 50 percent of the pension that the President was receiving. These survivors would continue to be entitled to the benefits specified in the Act's Schedule. On funeral benefits the former president, former vice president and their spouses will be accorded state funeral benefits.
The Former Vice President (Pension and Retirement Benefits) Bill at Clause 3 of the Bill limits the payment of pension such that a person who held office as Vice President before the 5th November, 2019 will not be paid on account of that former vice President having already benefited from a pension or gratuity under Ministers and National Assembly Gratuities and Pensions Act. The Clause further limits the payment of pension to a surviving spouse and dependent child.
Where the former Vice President dies after leaving office, the surviving spouse and children will receive 50 percent of the pension that the President was receiving. These survivors would continue to be entitled to the benefits specified in the Act's schedule.
“The pension and other benefits conferred by this Act shall be a charge on the Consolidated Fund,” the Bill says. The former Vice President will be entitled to five motor vehicles, six security officers, three drivers and one secretary. The former Vice President will also get medical insurance together with spouse and dependent child. They will also be entitled to medical evacuation.
Leader of Opposition, Dithapelo Keorapetse described the two Bills as “daylight robbery”. He said the proposed law for the President retirement package is a clear sign that President Masisi’s greed is on steroids and that he has absolutely no iota of decency. The law, he said, must be rejected as it is embarrassing, unreasonable and a huge cost to taxpayers.
“Batswana cannot pay for the President, his spouse upon his demise and then an unlimited number of children born in and out of wedlock and those that are adopted. The President exempts himself and his family from tax when workers with slave wages pay tax.
“It is simply wrong! President Masisi has long repurposed the state to suit his own interests and those of his family and business associates,” Keorapetse said in an interview this week. He indicated that as the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) in Parliament they are not surprised at all by the Bill because President Masisi has exuded greed since he ascended to the high office of President.
He has allocated himself a State Farm, he recently sponsored a law to pay himself a constituency allowance when he has no constituency and is taken care of by the state including transportation, accommodation and food,
Keorapetse, who doubles as MP for Selibe Phikwe West, slammed. He said Masisi has set up numerous commercial ventures and has partnered with business-people who do business with government, people who are known to be involved in unfair business practices.
On the former Vice President Bill, Keorapetse said it could also be that Vice President Slumber Tsogwane is enticed to leave or that the ruling party senses defeat at the polls and that is why they are securing the future of the Vice President through a retirement package for a former Vice President.
“It is wrong to use the state to address purely partisan issues like succession battles or plans. The package is also unreasonable and exorbitant for the taxpayer.”
According to Keorapetse, Batswana must reject this unprecedented bonanza for the President, his wife and children/dependents and his Vice in a country afflicted by unemployment, poverty, income and wealth inequalities and so much corruption.
He indicated that the government has rejected calls to have fair entitlement guarantee scheme or unemployment benefit to secure the future of workers whenever they are unemployed for whatever reason. They have failed to enact better retrenchment policies and schemes and dismally failed to provide better pensions for soldiers and civil servants who continue to retire into poverty, he said.
President of Botswana Congress Party (BCP), Dumelang Saleshando said there is insurmountable evidence pointing to President Masisi’s deep desire to convert as many public resources into his family assets. He told this publication that the more Batswana keep quiet as he (Masisi) inappropriately accumulates wealth for his family using the office he holds, the greater the desire to take more.
“He converted a government farm into his own, Botswana kept quiet. His family members who had no business interest before he ascended to the high office have become instant millionaires through government tenders, the nation kept quiet.
“He amended the law to pay himself a constituency allowance that former presidents never desired for, and we kept quiet. He took over land in the Delta to construct a holiday home for his use and the nation remained silent,” Saleshando lashed out.
Saleshando who is also MP for Maun West pointed out that Masisi is planning for life after Presidency and wants more national resources to accord him the comfort he and his family desire. He said the Presidents Pension and Retirement Benefits Amendment Bill should be seen as insensitive and blatant theft by the President and his family.
He said many Batswana that have worked hard all their lives are without pensions, save for the paltry government old age pension.
“Many Batswana working in retail shops and other profitable sectors that drive our economy do not have pensions because government has decided not to introduce legislation for compulsory pensions.
“Masisi only cares about himself and his family. It has now become a culture for the BDP that as and when a President approaches the end of their term, the laws dealing with their pension is amended to meet their personal preferences for their pension.”
