The Directorate of Intelligence and Security will gobble approximately P300 million of the 2023-2024 financial year’s development budget while their counterpart, the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime, will pocket only P7.3 million for the same.
“DIS projects include Geospatial, Security and Communication related projects and procurement of vehicles and new installations to assist in execution of the mandate,” said Minister for State President, Kabo Morwaeng, in his recent budget presentation in parliament.
Meanwhile, the DCEC P7.3 million will be spent on strengthening institution’s capabilities and technical works programme.
This is a continuation of a more than a decade-long practice of allocating more funds to DIS than other security agencies.
Perhaps the disparity in the budget allocation was informed by the country’s rankings in perceived levels of public sector corruption currently standing at position 45 out of 180 countries globally, and position three in Africa.
“Botswana continues to perform relatively well in the international ratings on corruption perception. These ratings are done by reputable institutions like Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG), Transparency International, and Moody’s ratings which, look at issues such as good governance and rule of law and justice,” the minister said.
Morwaeng added that government’s efforts to fight corruption are facing serious challenges due to globalisation. “This is aiding unscrupulous individuals to commit highly sophisticated corruption and economic crimes, which calls for robust interventions to curb corruption. There is a need, therefore, to capacitate DCEC officers on specialised anti-corruption investigative trainings,” the minister explained.
Meanwhile, there are close to 15 departments and organisations under the ministry of State President that include offices of former Presidents, the Directorate of Public Service Management, Broadcasting Services and National AIDS and Health Promotion Agency (NAHPA).
Morwaeng stated that unhealthy eating and excessive alcohol consumption has thrown the country into a crisis mode in terms of prevalence of non-communicable diseases such as cancers, diabetes, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.
“I wish to highlight that addressing NCDs, just like HIV, requires a coordinated action from all sectors within a broader whole of society. This has however proved impractical in our case because Botswana’s HIV and AIDS Basic Services Package does not include NCDs thus putting them at risk of premature death from avoidable complications”.
The ministry got their share of approximately P2.3billion for Recurrent Budget and P1billion for Development Budget.
The minister said the Department of Broadcasting Services will engage and promote content development strategies to help monetize and optimise the content development value chain by holding roadshows, hosting international events, and engaging TV and Radio consultants to help improve the skill capacity and capability of local creators.