Parly questions and answers
Sharon Mathala | Tuesday July 7, 2015 14:35
Question:
Pius Mokgware (Gabane-Mmankgodi)
Asked the Minister of Defence, Justice and Security to state the Companies or organisations which Seleka Springs (Pty) represented as agents since 1989 to date for the supply of goods and services to Botswana Defence Force (BDF) and the Botswana Police Services (BPS).
To also detail the contracts and amounts awarded to the companies and to state the amount of money Seleka Springs received as payment for its role as agents in each contracts.
Response: Between 1989 and 2012, Seleka Springs acted as agents for several companies for the supply of specialised equipment, ammunition and spares in respect to Alvis Vickers (UK), Steryr-Daimler, FN Herstal (SA and Belgium) Thales Electronic System, Thales Raython Systems, Unionlet Limited, Meccar (SA) and Pilatus Aircraft Limited. What I have been able to establish so far indicates the following amounts for contracts that were in different currencies used in the different contracts. French Francis (62,993,048), Euros ($ 1,433,715.15) and P102,370,000.
I am however not privy to contracts or agreement details between the principal supplies and Seleka Springs. As for the Botswana Police, Seleka Springs in 2000 was awarded a tender as principal suppliers of service rifles and pistols totalling one hundred and fifteen thousand and fifty five pula (P115, 055).
Question:
Dithapelo Keorapetse (Selebi Phikwe West)
Asked the Minister of Health how long the council for health Service Accreditation of Southern Africa (COHSASA) has been engaged in the accreditation process of Botswana hospitals and/ or health facilities.
As well as how much the Ministry spent during the period, which COHSASA was involved in the accreditation of hospitals.
He also quizzed when government expects the accreditation process to include and how much it anticipates spending before the process is completed and if there are any initial recommendations from COHSASA for hospitals standards or compliance for accreditation purposes.
Response: The council for Health Service Accreditation of Southern Africa (COHSASA) has been engaged in the accreditation process of Botswana health facilities since March 2009 to date.
The Ministry has spent P6,616,049.31 during the period in which COHSASA was involved in the accreditation of hospitals. The government expects the facilities to have attained accreditation status by end of March 2017 and it is anticipated to cost P2,024 076.49 before the process is completed.
The initial recommendations from COHSASA for hospitals standards or compliance for accreditation purposes was for the facilities to put in place or improve systems and processes to address critical deficiencies or non-conformities, use of medical and non medial equipment, risk management (infection control and prevention, fire safety, patient safety and waste management), resuscitation services, human resource management, quality improvement and clinical government.
Question: Biggie Butale (Tati West)
Asked the Minister of Agriculture when the National Food Technology Research Centre (NFRTC), the Department of Agricultural Research and Development of Veterinary Laboratory would be merged into a company.
If he was aware that the Managing Director of NFTRC has signed a contract whilst on acting appointment, if so does it constitute a good corporate governance and where the headquarters of the new entity would be based?
Response: The process of merging the NFRTC, THE Department of Agriculture Research and the national Veterinary Laboratory is ongoing. The registration of National Agricultural Research and Development Institute, the organisation that will continue the merged functions has been done. The Directors have duly been appointed and will be launched on July 9, 2015 at Kanye. Thereafter the process of recruiting the Chief Executive Officer and other necessary personnel will commence leading, to the set up of the new institute.
The Chief Research Scientist who is currently the Acting Managing Director, NFRTC has signed a three-year contract for the substantive position of Chief Research Scientist. The arrangement is in accordance with good governance. The signing of the contract was not for the Managing Director position but for the substantive position. The acting appointment was not on contract but the expectations of the position for which the officer is acting are elaborated in the acting appointment letter.
With regard to the headquarters, currently the Ministry cannot commit to any place to be the headquarters of the National Agricultural Research and Development Institute. A determination would be made in line with the mandate of the new institute and a suitable place would be designated as headquarters.