Category: Parliament

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has successfully designed and installed a new Elections Management System replacing the old one, which has since become obsolete.

Minister for State President, Defence and Security, Mr Moeti Mohwasa revealed this in his presentation of the 2026/27 budget request for the IEC on Wednesday.  Minister Mohwasa told Parliament that the new system would be used by the commission to manage huge electoral data.

“The new system has more capacity, as well as improved security and workflow features. The IEC has also completed migration of data from the old system to the new system,” he said. 

He added that as part of advance preparations for the general elections for 2029 and at the same time addressing some of the issues raised by stakeholders during the evaluation of the 2024 general elections, the IEC had just opened an office at Lerala, utilising the offices of the Department of Information Services. 

Other places targeted for opening of IEC offices, he said included Sefhare and Mabutsane by the end of April and June this year respectively, following completion of procurement processes relating to office space and other requirements. 

Mr Mohwasa said plans were in place to decongest Thamaga, Shoshong, Mogoditshane and Mahalapye IEC offices. 

“Now, what the IEC is doing is commendable and very much in sync with their strategy of bringing electoral services closer to communities. Our hope is that this would improve voters’ participation rate in electoral processes,” he said. 

Parliament also learnt about the need for reforms regarding the laws governing the conduct and management of elections. 

Mr Mohwasa said once the Constitution had been reviewed comprehensively, subsidiary legislations such as the Electoral Act would be reviewed as well, to create the necessary alignment and address issues of transparency in electoral processes. 

Meanwhile, Parliament approved the requested P434.4 million for IEC’s recurrent and development budget estimates for 2026/27 financial year, with a P102.5 million for recurrent budget and P336.8 million for development budget. 

A total of P1,092,090 would be used to cover gratuities for contract officers, whose contracts expired through effluxion of time during the 2026/2027 financial year while the sum of P2.1 million would cater for local travel and subsistence costs, petrol, oil and lubricants. 

Over P11 million would fund among others, postal charges, service charges including utilities, uniform and protective clothing and printing of election materials for by-elections, if any including office and warehouse rentals .

The sum of P1.8 million would cover maintenance services for recording and visual aid equipment, computer systems and consumables and vehicle spare parts and general maintenance of the IEC’s fleet. 

Under the development budget, P336.8 million would cater for the ongoing review of electoral processes project estimated at the cost of P50 million.

The project involved installation of electronic voter registration systems and may straddle two or three financial years due to its technical complexities. 

Over P11.6 million had been proposed for the construction of new office block and staff houses at Bobonong, as well as staff houses at Shakawe.

The bulk of the budget would be allocated towards facilitation of an anticipated National Referendum on the establishment of a Constitutional Court at an estimated cost of P275 million. 

The Ministry of Health has resolved to phase out and replace aging Tecmed 2000 X-ray machines across government hospitals and prioritise new procurement over increasingly expensive repairs.

Assistant Minister of Health, Mr Lawrence Ookeditse told Parliament on Wednesday that the ministry’s ultimate goal was to replace the units, which were now over 15 years old, as the cost of maintenance had become disproportionately high compared to their current value. 

In the interim, Mr Ookeditse said the department had resolved to only approve repairs that were not financially prohibitive. On the maintenance backlog at Sekgoma Memorial and Tutume Primary Hospitals, Mr Ookeditse revealed that there was currently no active framework service contract for the Tecmed equipment. 

He indicated that previous maintenance tender (No. POU/MOH/HSM/SER/0073/08072024) was cancelled on 10 April, 2024 due to technical reasons, following expiration of a two-year comprehensive upgrade contract in 2020.

“The failed X-ray tube was never replaced by the previous contractor because the parent company retracted the sole dealership,” he explained. 

He added that while the dealership was transferred to another company, the subsequent cancellation of the tender prevented further maintenance. Despite the mechanical failures, the assistant minister assured Parliament that healthcare delivery remained stable. 

He said while the Tecmed 2000 machine at Sekgoma Memorial Hospital became faulty in July 2022, radiology services continued to be offered through an alternative X-ray machine while at Tutume Primary Hospital critical parts, including the CPU PCB1X and various control boards, were previously replaced. 

He said a functional tube was installed in September 2021 via Floritech Investments and a collimator was recently replaced at a cost of P77,000 through Hypex Medical. 

Member of Parliament for Serowe South, Mr Leepetswe Lesedi had asked the minister to update Parliament on the maintenance and procurement history of Tecmed 2000 X-ray machines at Sekgoma Memorial and Tutume Primary Hospital. 

Mr Lesedi had also sought clarity on the non-functional status of equipment and raised concerns regarding potential overcharging by contractors. He questioned the transparency of tender awards and noted apparent conflicts in approval decisions between hospital-based biomedical engineers and the ministry headquarters.

Minister for State President, Defence and Security Mr Moeti Mohwasa has told Parliament that the 2011 public service strike met the legal requirements of a lawful industrial action, although participation by workers in essential services was considered unlawful. 

Responding to a parliamentary question from Member of Parliament for Maun East, Mr Goretetse Kekgonegile, Minister Mohwasa said the industrial action arose from a salary dispute between government and public service unions under the umbrella of the Botswana Federation of Public, Private and Parastatal Sector Unions (BOFEPUSU).

Mr Mohwasa explained that under the Trade Disputes Act and the Public Service Act, public servants had the right to withdraw their labour provided that a strike notice was issued to the Commissioner of Labour. 

“The 2011 industrial action met the requirements for a legal strike,” he said.

However, he noted that government maintained that employees classified under essential services were not permitted to participate because interruption of such services could endanger the life, safety or health of the public. He revealed that a total of 2 802 employees were dismissed as a result of the strike, out of which 2 700 applied for re-employment and 1 834 were re-employed into the public service in November 2011. 

Minister Mohwasa said some dismissed employees did not apply for re-employment because they had already secured employment elsewhere, including outside the country before government announced its decision. 

He further stated that in 2019, government made another decision to re-employ those who had missed the earlier opportunity, resulting in 245 former employees being re-employed.  The minister clarified that none of the workers dismissed during the strike were reinstated but were re-employed on two-year contracts. 

“Workers aged 58 years and above were offered two-year contracts because they were approaching the compulsory retirement age while those who had already reached retirement age were granted waivers to allow them to serve on 24-month contracts,” he explained. 

Mr Mohwasa added that all employees dismissed in 2011 were paid their terminal benefits in accordance with dismissal procedures, meaning they were not entitled to benefits associated with reinstatement. However, he said government remained open to engagement with former employees who still felt aggrieved. 

Maun East MP had asked the minister to brief Parliament on the repercussions and lessons learned from the 2011 BOFEPUSU industrial action, including its legality, the number of dismissed and re-employed workers and possible compensation for those affected. 

Legislators across the political divide have demanded that the approved P5.8 billion budget for the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure prioritises long-neglected internal roads as well as immediate implementation of toll-gates to sustain the nation’s infrastructure. 

Debating the ministry’s budget proposal for the next financial year on Wednesday, Member of Parliament for Selebi Phikwe East, Mr Kgoberego Nkawana, opined that public transport operators were calling for a fare increase as high operating costs continued to erode their profits.

The legislator also proposed that taxis be legally required to install GPS systems in their vehicles. Regarding the national airline, he said time was nigh Air Botswana spread its wings by launching long-haul routes outside the SADC region. He also called for lower airfares to encourage Batswana to fly with the national carrier. 

MP for Good Hope/Mmathethe, Dr Edwin Dikoloti, spoke on the status of the Mmathethe-Metlobo-Bray-Werda Road, noting it had been funded long ago yet was missing from the minister’s speech. 

Dr Dikoloti highlighted the importance of the Digawana-Molapowabojang-Kgomokasitwa Road and thanked the minister for the construction of the Kgoro Road. He also stressed that public transport permits should be issued with greater transparency. 

Francistown South MP, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi welcomed the planned repairs for the A1 Road, adding that the country already had the basic infrastructure to set up tollgates in Sese, Dibete and Dukwi. However, he expressed concern that the Francistown airport remained underutilised, closing at 5pm, an unusual practice for a city airport. 

MP Galenawabo Lekau of Mogoditshane West said given its large population, Mogoditshane needed a bus rank to cater to travellers from the western side of the country. He further noted that while Mogoditshane was a hub for second-hand vehicle trading, the area lacked a Department of Transport office. 

Boteti West MP, Mr Sam Digwa reminded the minister not to forget Xhere in the quest to develop the Kuke-Tsienyane Road. He decried the poor state of affairs in Boteti, stating that the area lacked an internal road network. Gabane/Mmankgodi MP, Mr Kagiso Mmusi welcomed the access road to Mmokolodi but called for a similar connection to Tloaneng. 

He described the expansion of the Gabane-Mmankgodi Road into a dual carriageway as crucial, noting that five to six constituencies would benefit. 

Mr Karabo Gare, MP for Moshupa-Manyana, highlighted that infrastructure was vital for economic development and service delivery. MP Gare also expressed concern regarding the Digawana-Kgomokasitwa-Ntlhantlhe project despite funding being allocated two years ago. Francistown West MP, Mr Ignatius Moswaane called for speedy introduction of tollgates, asserting that current infrastructure was sufficient to support them. MP Helen Manyeneng of Mmopane/Metsimotlhabe called for the regulation of e-hailing services like Yango and inDrive, stating that local taxis were losing customers to the platforms. She also urged government to regulate driving schools. Mmadinare MP, Mr Ketlhalefile Motshegwa said his constituency had been neglected for years, leaving the area underdeveloped without proper roads. 

He called for the termination of the Robelela contract, arguing that the contractor was moving at a snail’s pace. Following the debate, Parliament approved the P5.8 billion budget request for the 2026/27 financial year presented by Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Mr Noah Salakae.

Government is currently consulting on the minimum compulsory retirement age of 45 for Botswana Defence Force (BDF) members, a policy the Minister for State President, Defence and Security has admitted is a growing concern for the administration. 

In response to a parliamentary question on Tuesday, Minister Moeti Mohwasa, told Parliament that the review was part of a broader effort to ensure that early retirement did not leave BDF members, particularly Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs), at a financial disadvantage compared to other public servants. 

Mr Mohwasa said the ministry, in collaboration with the Botswana Public Officers Pension Fund (BPOPF), had launched a series of interventions to fix anomalies in how military pensions were calculated. 

These included evaluating the long-term value of current payouts, cleaning up records to ensure accuracy as well as injecting funds to correct historical calculation differences. 

Minister Mohwasa further emphasised that the goal was to ensure BDF pension outcomes were broadly comparable in value and security to those of civilian public officers with similar lengths of service. 

Maun West MP, Mr Caterpillar Hikuama had challenged the relevance of NCOs retiring at 45 while their counterparts in the Commissioned officers category could serve until 60.  

The MP further questioned whether the current alignment between the BDF Pension Scheme and the BPOPF truly provided equitable long-term security for those who served in the lower ranks. 

Parliament has been informed that the construction of the A35 Gumare-Sepopa Road is being carried out in half-width sections.

Answering a question in Parliament on Tuesday, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Mr Noah Salakae said the method allowed for the use of gravel bypasses until each section was completed, at which point traffic was diverted onto the newly constructed side while work continued on the opposite lane.

He explained that such approach was necessitated by a variation order and noted that the project was currently subject to funding limitations, which had constrained the ministry’s ability to provide a fully surfaced or tarred bypass.

On safety concerns, Mr Salakae indicated that the road had registered a total of 13 accidents during the construction period, including seven due to driver error, two involving collisions with animals and four attributed to adverse road conditions.

“Fortunately, no fatalities have been recorded. One injury was reported from a single incident, while the remaining accidents were classified as minor,” he added.

He acknowledged that while traffic was currently using the completed half of the road, the ministry was aware that certain sections became impassable, particularly during the rainy season.

He assured Parliament that the sections had undergone maintenance and that the road would be monitored continuously throughout the duration of the project.

The minister was responding to questions from Ngami MP, Mr Phillimon Aaron, who raised concerns regarding whether the A35 construction complied with national standards.

Mr Aaron questioned the lack of a standard alternative road for users during construction, the number of accidents caused by thick clouds of dust and whether the contractor was fulfilling their contractual obligations regarding bypasses.

The upgrading of Siviya Health Post will be considered alongside other facilities in future development plans, provided that funds become available.

Responding to a question in Parliament on Tuesday, Minister of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Mr Ketlhalefile Motshegwa said currently, it was not feasible to upgrade all the 350 health posts across the country due to budgetary constraints.

Minister Motshegwa added that primary healthcare was officially transferred from the Ministry of Health to his ministry on April 1.

“Following this decentralisation, the ministry is currently assessing all facilities to determine how best to improve service delivery nationwide,” he said.

MP for Tati East, Mr Tlhabologo Furniture had requested an update on the status of the Siviya Health Post. The MP also asked if there were plans to upgrade to a full clinic, given that the local population size met the required threshold for such a transition.

The Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs is planning to close the Pilane Landfill. 

Answering a question in Parliament on Tuesday, Minister Ketlhalefile Motshegwa noted that the move was linked to the development of an envisaged waste management facility at Dikwididi. 

Mr Motshegwa stated that the ministry, through the Kgatleng District Council, was considering appropriate interventions to address ongoing challenges at the site. He further explained that, given the current financial climate, government was considering to engage a private company to assist. 

The minister emphasised that rehabilitation of a waste management facility, such as the one in Pilane, was both a regulatory and policy requirement once it reached the end of its operational life. 

Member of Parliament for Kgatleng West, Dr Unity Dow, had asked the minister whether there were plans to close and rehabilitate the landfill. 

 Additionally, Dr Dow sought an investigation into the adverse health consequences of the smoke that regularly spewed from the site and affected nearby residents.

Government has allocated P5 billion for the next financial year to settle outstanding BDF pension transfer values. 

This follows a major decision to adjust the pension denominator for nearly 10,000 personnel.  Answering a question in Parliament on Tuesday, Minister for State President, Defence and Security, Mr Moeti Mohwasa revealed that 9,972 military personnel were eligible for such enhancements, comprising 5,560 separated members and 4,412 serving members. 

Minister Mohwasa said processing began in July 2024 and as of February this year, 3,599 separated members have been paid and 161 were currently in the process of being paid, leaving 1,800 separated members awaiting their calculated values. 

Regarding active-duty personnel, he said all 4,412 serving members were still waiting to have their records credited with the recalculated transfer values. 

The minister noted that the primary limiting factor on the rate of disbursement had been a shortage of funds. To date, he said government had disbursed P1.4 billion to the fund administrators (NMG), which will cover 3,760 of the received claims. For the upcoming financial year, he indicated that government had allocated P5 billion for pensions and gratuities. 

“This will go towards payment of outstanding claims as well as updating the active and deferred member records with recalculated transfer values,” Mr Mohwasa stated. 

He emphasised that government was prioritising payments and continued to disburse funds to NMG as revenue became available. Currently, he said claimants owed less than P300 000 had been settled and those owed between P300,000 and P500,000 were now being processed. 

Regarding the structure of the payouts, the minister explained that transfer value enhancements were governed by pension legislation, including the Retirement Funds Act, Income Tax Superannuation rules and BPOPF Fund Rules. 

“Under these regulations, a member is only permitted to commute their entire retirement benefit if the remaining 50 per cent, after the initial lump sum, results in an annuity of less than P20,000 per annum,” he said. 

Minister Mohwasa explained that such provisions were mandatory, stating that the law did not allow for discretionary waivers regardless of a beneficiary’s age. 

He was responding to questions from Member of Parliament for Chobe, Mr Goretetse Kekgonegile, who asked the minister to brief on the progress of outstanding BDF dues. 

Mr Kekgonegile requested clarity on the number of personnel paid versus those outstanding, the reasons for delays and the specific timeline for final payments. 

He also questioned why members were required to purchase pension schemes with 50 per cent of their dues and whether flexibility could be exercised for older beneficiaries. 

Local authorities have been instructed to find alternative modes of transport following government’s resolve that donkey carts are unsuitable for ferrying learners. 

The decision stemmed from concerns that donkey carts exposed learners to safety risks, including road accidents and harsh weather conditions. 

Minister of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Mr Ketlhalefile Motshegwa, said this answering a question from Member of Parliament for Mmopane-Metsimotlhabe, Ms Helen Manyeneng in Parliament on Tuesday. 

Minister Motshegwa stated that the use of donkeys for learner transportation was being abolished and therefore councils were now required to implement alternative arrangements that met acceptable safety standards, specifically citing the need for roadworthy and properly covered vehicles. 

Ms Manyeneng had asked the minister if he was aware that learners from Dintoroko, Gamononyane and Mmamhiko were being transported to Metsimotlhabe via donkey carts. 

She highlighted the serious safety risks involved and wanted to know whether the ministry would commit to providing safer and sheltered vehicles to ensure the protection and well-being of the children.