Payouts for retired soldiers’ stall
Brilliant Manje | Tuesday January 27, 2026 15:30
The question arose at the seating where the Minister of Communications David Tshere updated the house on the status of the matter, which was reportedly removed from the courts in 2024 following discussions of an out-of-court settlement.
The A re Itshekeng case was brought by retired BDF officers, led by Lieutenant General (Retired) Gaolathe Galebotswe. The officers challenged the government's decision to move BDF pensions from a defined benefit pension scheme to the Botswana Public Officers Pension Fund, which operates under a defined contribution model. The group argued that the change reduced their expected retirement benefits.
Responding to the question, the minister explained that government and the affected officers are still engaged in settlement talks and have agreed to appoint an independent actuarial services provider to assess the financial impact of the pension changes. “The terms of reference for the actuarial assessment have been agreed, and the process to appoint a qualified service provider is currently underway,” explained Tshere.
He said the actuarial review is necessary after the government noted that there were allegations that some retirees had been paid more than what they were entitled to, while others received less, creating inconsistencies that need to be corrected.
Kgosi Rantuane said members of A re Itshekeng are growing frustrated after waiting for a while without clear communication on the way forward.
The minister did not give a timeline for when the actuarial report will be completed or when a final decision on the matter will be made, leaving many retired BDF members still uncertain about the future of their pension benefits.