DIS requests P28 million for systems maintenance
Baboki Kayawe | Friday December 5, 2014 14:06
The Directorate on Intelligence and Security (DIS), for an example, needs P28 million to supplement their operational budget.
A recent compatibility assessment undertaken by the department informed the additional budgetary requirement given the ever-evolving technology, according to a supplementary budget request due in Parliament. The DIS says “technology compelled the department to fast-track installation of some security systems”.
Initially the security agency had requested close to P16 million towards computer system maintenance and later realised about P13 million deficit. It is not a common practice for government budget officials to underestimate departmental expenditure at this magnitude.
Advancing reasons for this supplementary financing, the DIS stated that, “The warranty period of these systems will lapse before the end of the financial year and there is need to ensure continuity of their maintenance plan by entering into contracts with the suppliers.”
It is against this backdrop that the intelligence agency is soliciting additional funds to cover costs of entering into Service Level Agreements (SLAs), which have proved to be cost effective.
“More so that the system’s health relies on both preventative and reactive maintenance, and support which will greatly reduce downtimes,” reads the budget request.
The Botswana Defence Force (BDF) has made submissions for a whopping extra P390. 8 million to increase the provision of the following among others; slightly over P146 million for the augmentation of the vote for personnel emoluments in order to meet the increased expenditure arising from newly introduced staff allowances and the four (4) percent salary hike effected April this year.
“P244,695,230 is required to augment the vote for the BDF’s operational budget. The BDF undertook a capability exercise in 2013 to gauge whether the operational efficiency and readiness of the Defence Force is adequately resourced to maintain it equipment, infrastructure and manpower,” says the supplementary budget.
The military, therefore, wants to increase the provision for aircraft, equipment maintenance and other recurring costs.
Meanwhile the Office of President (OP) has requested excess P2 million to supplement its internal travel costs.
According to the supplementary budget, the OP experienced an increase in postal charges, service charges and rental expenses owing to additional E-government offices and public sector reforms. All these increased the department’s establishment by additional 45 staff members. According to the budget request OP therefore needs P7,637,810 to fulfill these operations.
Additionally, P2.7 million is needed to cater for vehicle and plant maintenance. The supplementary budget notes that no budgetary provision was made for this following the vehicle maintenance de-centralisation budget.
The Ministry of Education and Skills Development’s Teaching Service Management needs P468,230,660 to sustain the training of teachers that began when the financial year opened. No budgetary provision had been made for temporary teachers who were engaged.
“As of May 2014, only 902 teachers had completed training. To date a total of 2,561 temporary teachers has been employed on contract terms of 24 to 36 months,” the document reads.
The Department of Broadcasting Services that has had a hectic season in the past elections with its staff scattered across the breadth and length of the country covering the polls, requested slightly over P1 million to cater for vehicle and plant maintenance. This too was not provided for in the 2014/2015 budget.