MoPAPA cuts budget by 11%
Bame Piet | Thursday February 12, 2015 13:19
The figure is 11 percent less that what the ministry got the previous year. Out of the amount, the Directorate on Intelligence Service (DIS) will take the largest share of P244 million followed by the National Aids Coordinating Agency (NACA) at P195 million.
Other departments that fall under the ministry are Information and Broadcasting; Auditor General; the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crimes (DCEC); and Disaster Management Office. When making budget presentations for the ministry, Assistant Minister, Phillip Makgalemele said that the World Bank Group was contracted two years ago to come up with an appropriate formula of Doing Business in Botswana, which will guide the government to adopt new ideas.
He said that there is need for monitoring performance across all sectors and evaluating the implementation of policies, programmes and projects, as well as analysing the impact such initiatives have on the lives of Batswana.
“To this effect, the government is in the process of developing a comprehensive National Monitoring and Evaluation Systems (NMES). The success of the National M&E system will need concerted efforts and involvement of all players in the economy, and will require capacity building across the economy”.
Makgalemele said that the government emphasises public sector reform with a view to achieve productivity and efficient service delivery. He said that a comprehensive Public Sector Reform Coordination Programme is being developed and will be ready for implementation during NDP 11.
The Public Sector Reform Coordination Programme is meant to ensure increased coordination among the various reforms to derive maximum value and the necessary synergies; improve monitoring and evaluation of reforms through scheduled reviews; and inform decision making for prioritisation, sequencing and funding reforms.
“These results are expected in turn to give effect to the achievement of the priorities articulated by government, which are employment creation, poverty eradication, education and skills development, robust health-care system and good governance to combat corruption, among others,” he said.
The Assistant Minister said that the review of the Public Service Act is complete and it is anticipated that an amendment Bill will be tabled before Parliament soon.
He added that collective bargaining is still at infancy stage and therefore continues to experience teething problems, which will be overcome in due course.
“Negotiations on salaries and conditions of service for 2015-2016 financial year are underway and it is hoped that they will be concluded before commencement of the financial year,” he said.
Makgalemele reported that there are 36,000 beneficiaries who have enrolled in the poverty eradication programme and that 12,800 backyard garden projects have been funded to-date.
“A total of 827 projects are classified as excelling and on a positive growth path and earn a notable profit”.
He said that People with Disabilities continue to benefit from government programmes including poverty eradication, LIMID and other packages.