Follow Us On Facebook

Fullpaper
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Disclaimer
  • Contact Us
Monday, April 19, 2021
12 °c
Gaborone
18 ° Mon
18 ° Tue
19 ° Wed
20 ° Thu
  • Login
  • Register
The Patriot On Sunday
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport
  • Analysis & Opinions
  • Vacancies & Tenders
No Result
View All Result

No products in the cart.

  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport
  • Analysis & Opinions
  • Vacancies & Tenders
No Result
View All Result
The Patriot On Sunday
No Result
View All Result

IEC P5m budget cut

March 11, 2021
in News
301 16
0
IEC P5m budget cut

Morwaeng

616
SHARES
1.8k
VIEWS
ShareShareShare

Morwaeng cites budgetary constraints

BDP MPs reject Electoral Amendment motion

BAKANG TIRO

editors@thepatriot.co.bw

While still battling for independence away from the Office of the President (OP), the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) was shocked this week when government announced a budget cut of P5.6 million.

The reduction in IEC’s recurrent budget was revealed this week in Parliament by the Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Kabo Morwaeng. Morwaeng requested for the embattled IEC a sum of P66, 219 360.00 for the 2021/22 financial year.

“This represents a decrease of about P 5,659,770.00 or 8.55% less than the 2020/21 approved budget of P 71,879,130.00,” he said to a backlash from opposition MPs for reducing the IEC budget.

The allowances and salaries budget for IEC was also reduced by P477 000 during 2021/22 year. “I request for a total of P10, 612,440.00. This is an increase of P8,712,440 from the 2020/21 budget of One Million, Nine Hundred Thousand Pula,” said Morwaeng, noting that the funds include P500 000 for settling Tutume office construction costs.

Observers point out that a significant reduction on the IEC budget could be an intimidating tactic played by government to frustrate the IEC over its growing demand for independence.

Political analyst Lesole Machacha said the independence of IEC cannot be guaranteed any time soon by government provided that there is no will for effective constitutional review. He said it was long evident that the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) would not agree to the amendment of Electoral Act proposed by an opposition MP Yandani Boko. “There is no way government would leave the IEC to be independent. Currently the commission is relying on government for funding, an arrangement which the incumbent use to clip IEC wings,” said Machacha.

In an interview on Friday, IEC Acting Chief Public Relations Officer (PRO) Seoforeng said the reduction in the budget would negatively affect developments that are planned for 2021. She noted that the commission is currently embarking on a voter apathy research which is crucial for enhancing the voter education exercise which in its nature is quite very expensive. “The commission has a huge mandate but with limited resources it would be a challenge. But we are happy that the development budget has been increased as the developments are also critical for transforming the commission in areas such as digital connectivity,” said Seoforeng.

Meanwhile, Seoforeng said the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the commission in a negative way citing that the restriction in numbers of people gathering delayed stakeholder engagements. To that end, she said the future of the three (3) pending council bye elections remains in limbo, buttressing that it is negatively affecting the mandate of the commission.

BDP reject motion

The IEC call for independence hit a snag on Friday when the BDP majority in Parliament defeated the Amendment of Electoral Act motion broguth by Mahalapye East MP Yandani Boko.

Boko proposed to the house that there be an amendment of Electoral Act so to bring integrity, fairness, credibility, freeness, fairness in the elections and legitimacy of Government. “Our past general elections were highly disputed, discredited and thus making the Government illegitimate in the minds of the people which is a potential source of potential instability and to engulf the country into conflict and chaos,” said Boko pleading for the amendment of the Act.

After 2019 elections, the opposition coalition UDC petitioned the results in 16 constituencies citing irregularities during the elections process but its case was thrown out with costs by courts.

The BDP MPs moved swiftly to defeat the motion led by minister of Presidential Affairs Kabo Morwaeng who insisted that IEC is independent therefore no need to amend an Electoral Act. Morwaeng buttressed that the constitution review will include the review of the Electoral Act therefore with his fellow BDP MPs arguing that there is no urgency to review the Act currently.

BDP used its numerical strength to defeat motion with 39 MPs voting against and 14 supporting it. Political analyst Lesole Machacha said government should undertake referendum to show its determination to review the constitution including Electoral Act but he doubts it is committed.

Facebook Comments
Share246Tweet154Share43

Get real time update about this post categories directly on your device, subscribe now.

Unsubscribe

Related Posts

There will never be true peace unless the insurgents are truly defeated – opinion

There will never be true peace unless the insurgents are truly defeated – opinion

April 15, 2021
1.8k

Grahame McLeod Please allow me some space in your paper to comment on the article Botswana, RSA deploy troops to Mozambique that appeared...

‘Lies will not define Rwanda’ -Kagame

‘Lies will not define Rwanda’ -Kagame

April 15, 2021
1.8k

"Rwandan lives were just pawns in geopolitical games" Rwanda marks 27th Commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi  To...

Motshegwa defeats Mantswe, BPOPF

Motshegwa defeats Mantswe, BPOPF

April 14, 2021
1.6k

STAFF WRITERS editors@thepatriot.co.bw Ketlhalefile Motshegwa is having the last laugh against Botswana Public Officers Pension Fund (BPOPF) Chairman, Solomon Mantswe...

BCL suitor given further six months

BCL suitor given further six months

April 14, 2021
1.6k

LEFOKO MOAGI* 1.0 Purpose The purpose of this note is to update Parliament on the BCL Group liquidation and the...

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Alcohol ban divides Cabinet

Alcohol ban divides Cabinet

February 24, 2021
The DIS f$%&@d up my life

The DIS f$%&@d up my life

February 24, 2021
Magosi, Masisi pact crumbles

Magosi, Masisi pact crumbles

March 24, 2021
There will never be true peace unless the insurgents are truly defeated – opinion

There will never be true peace unless the insurgents are truly defeated – opinion

2019 battle of the Manifestos

2019 battle of the Manifestos

BOFEPUSU on 10% salary hike

BOFEPUSU on 10% salary hike

There will never be true peace unless the insurgents are truly defeated – opinion

There will never be true peace unless the insurgents are truly defeated – opinion

April 15, 2021
‘Lies will not define Rwanda’ -Kagame

‘Lies will not define Rwanda’ -Kagame

April 15, 2021
Mining in deep contraction

Mining in deep contraction

April 15, 2021
The Patriot On sunday

© 2021 The Patriot on sunday- Inspired by Search Mart.

Navigate Site

  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Disclaimer
  • Contact Us

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport
  • Analysis & Opinions
  • Vacancies & Tenders

© 2021 The Patriot on sunday- Inspired by Search Mart.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?