More benefits as Masisi’s monthly earnings exceed P100, 000
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Wednesday December 20, 2023 07:21
Since the salary increase in April 2019, President Masisi has been earning P89,588 per month. With the upcoming adjustment, his monthly income will rise to P110,425, excluding allowances. This revelation unfolded yesterday at the National Assembly when Minister of State President Kabo Morwaeng tabled the Salaries and Allowances Amendment Bill for Members of Parliament (MP) and Ntlo ya Dikgosi representatives.
President Masisi will be the first Botswana President to receive this benefit of a constituency allowance at the rate of P232,544.16 per annum.
However, this development did not sit well with Botswana Congress Party (BCP) leader Dumelang Saleshando. During parliamentary debates, Saleshando noted that recently, in his Kgotla meetings, the President has been emphasising that he is the most senior MP and looks after 57 constituencies.
'I am reliably informed that President Masisi has in the past informed the BDP caucus that he deserves a constituency allowance. The Amendment is, therefore, not a surprise,” he said in an interview this week.
Saleshando highlighted that the purpose of a constituency allowance is to enable the MP to traverse the length and breadth of the constituency, as MPs are not given government transport for constituency duties. He also pointed out that the President is availed of all means of official transport (planes, helicopters, vehicles, and boats) when he visits any constituency.
Moreover, Saleshando stressed that when Masisi chooses to lodge at any constituency, the costs are covered by the government. The BCP president argued that no President has ever earned a constituency allowance.
“This development is the epitome of greed, consistent with the Masisi presidency. We saw this with the Banyana Farms issue and the animals he was awarded by the government for game farming,” he added.
Saleshando proposed an amendment for the new clause to be removed, but the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) MPs refused. On the issue that Masisi might have recommended being given the allowance, BDP Chief Whip Liakat Kablay told Mmegi in an interview that the proposal of a constituency allowance for the President was recommended by the Standing Committee chaired by Justice Monametsi Gaongalelwe, which also recommended a 7.5 percent increase in salaries for MPs, councillors, and members of Ntlo ya Dikgosi.
Kablay stated that they have agreed to a standing committee recommendation that will exist for three years. He further argued that, even if the President is not directly elected by the people, he still has a responsibility to care for constituencies when a Member of Parliament (MP) vacates their seats. He said this is an important role that the president fulfils, even if it is not through direct election.
“[The] President regularly visits constituencies, not only to provide updates on national issues but also to listen to the concerns of the people. This is another way that the President fulfils his role and responsibilities to the people,” Kablay said.
He said the same allowance is given to Specially Elected MPs who do not have constituencies.
The chief whip said the problem is that people argue against the allowance given to the President, yet they want the President to visit their areas. Contacted for comment, University of Botswana (UB) politics and administrative studies lecturer Adam Mfundisi believes that tying the constituency allowance to the President’s benefits sets a dangerous precedent. According to him, it creates political corruption since the President does not have a constituency.
Mfundisi pointed out that the President already receives generous benefits from the state, and this new allowance could lead to an unequal distribution of resources and a lack of accountability. Mfundisi believes that the new arrangement is not in the best interest of Botswana and its people.
“This raises questions about the implications of this change and whether it is appropriate for the President to receive additional funding. The President only comes to Parliament when delivering speeches. He does not participate in debates and does not have a constituency allowance to take care of,” Mfundisi said.
Secondly, he pointed out that the President is not directly elected by the people, but rather selected by the ruling party. Additionally, he said the country’s economic crisis does not allow unnecessary expenditure or overspending.
He said one day, the President or former presidents would be called to account for some of the decisions taken. Furthermore, Mfundisi said the ruling party does pass such bills because of their high numbers in Parliament. According to the Bill, every member who attends a meeting of the Assembly or a committee of the Assembly shall receive an allowance at the rate of P517.02 for every day on which he or she attends such a meeting.
The Speaker shall receive an allowance at the rate of P630 for every day on which he or she attends a meeting of the Assembly or a committee of the Assembly. The Deputy Speaker shall receive an allowance at the rate of P525 for every day on which he or she attends a meeting of the Assembly or a committee of the Assembly.
However, the following shall receive the following hospitality allowances: Vice President at a rate of P14,330.36 per annum, Minister at a rate of P20,739.60, the Speaker at the same rate of P20,739.60, Assistant Minister same rate of P20,739.60, the deputy Speaker, at the rate of P20,739.60 per annum; and the Leader of the Opposition, at the rate of P11,264.40 per annum. With the President’s rate set to be at P1,325,108.70 per annum, the Vice President will get P1,162,376.50 per annum, which is P96,864 per month.
The Speaker at the rate of P1,027,998.99 per annum, which is P85,666 per month, and the Minister at the rate of P893,621.49 per annum, which is P74,468 per month. An Assistant Minister will get P687,640.10 per annum, which is P57,303 per month and Deputy Speaker, at the rate of P790,630 per annum, which is P65,885 per month. Just like assistant ministers, the Leader of the Opposition will earn P790,630.86 per annum, which is also P65,885 per month.
The chief whip rate and other MPs will get P579,753.50 per annum, which is P48,312 per month. The last increment was in April 2019 when MPs got a 15% salary increment. MPs then agreed to adjust their salaries by six percent. They also delinked their salaries from that of the public service structure by 11%. They also adjusted their constituency allowance by 50% and adjusted fixed allowances (communications and hospitality allowances) by 10%. They also increased the seating allowance to P450 per day of the seating. It was also provided for the seating allowance of the Speaker at P600 per day of the seating and P500 for the Deputy Speaker for each seating.
It was presented by then Minister of Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Nonofho Molefhi. Since 2019, the Vice President has been earning P943,032 per annum, the Minister P724,992 per annum, the Speaker at a rate of P724,992 per annum, the Deputy Speaker at a rate of P557,880 per annum, the Leader of the Opposition at the rate of P557,880 per annum, the Government Whip at the rate of P489,396 per annum, the Opposition Whip at the rate of P479,808 per annum, and any other Member at the rate of P470,364 per annum.