MPs board gravy train
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Friday March 18, 2016 14:42
Last year, there was alarm after the MPs and the President allocated themselves massive salary increases to the chagrin of the Botswana Federation of Public Sector Unions (BOFEPUSU).
Mmegi has learnt that the bill for councillors’ salary increase would be tabled before the end of this month. The Parliamentary caucus agreed last Thursday about the increment of the salaries and other benefits but did not finalise the percentage for increment.
“It is true legislators salary negotiations have started. I cannot share or hint anything because this is still an internal matter. Both the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) and opposition parties were given a chance to reflect on the matter,” said the BDP chief whip Liakat Kablay.
The Deputy Speaker Kagiso Molatlhegi also said he could not comment on the matter because it was internal and was not supposed to be made public before it was announced in Parliament.
“That was a closed briefing of MPs. Whoever has told you was wrong because their meetings are private. Not even employees of National Assembly are allowed to be there. Motho yoo o phoso tota,” said the disappointed Molatlhegi.
In that meeting, Mmegi learnt that the MPs proposed that they should be assisted with government vehicles when holding kgotla meetings because they would be performing official duties.
“The MPs are proposing that their salaries should be increased with at least 35 percent or more. For example they want their salaries to be at least half of what the South African MPs are getting. The truth is that the MPs when they go back to their homes after losing or retiring from political office, they become beggars. MPs spend most of their time on official duties like parliamentary committee, kgotla meetings and attending Parliamentary proceedings. They hardly spend time doing their personal businesses because they have to service their constituents,” the sources said.
“The other issue that was raised was that Parliament should be attractive to more educated politicians who would not resign from the House because they were enticed with better paying jobs. There is no dignity when someone leaves Parliament. Again the burial for a seating MP, which is P20,000, is too little. MPs and councillors take care of their constituents from their pockets, something that is not fair. The Committee of Rights and Privileges is tasked to look into these issues and recommendations will be made to the President very soon.”
After the passing of the National Assembly Salaries and Allowances Amendment Bill of 2015, President Ian Khama’s salary was increased by 26 percent to P651,348 per annum or 54,279 per month. Vice president Mokgweetsi Masisi now pockets P501,216 per annum or P41,768 per month.
Khama and Masisi’s Cabinet colleagues and the Speaker, Gladys Kokorwe now earn P439,656 per annum which is P36,638 per month. The Leader of Opposition, Duma Boko smiles all the way to the bank with a salary of P30,891 per month. Boko is at par with assistant ministers and deputy Speaker, Kagiso Molatlhegi.
Ordinary MPs salary was hiked by at least 32 percent from 201,565.00 in 2014 to P266,460 annually. Under last year’s new salaries, the chairpersons of parliamentary committees receive a daily allowance of P59.31 if the committee conducts business on a day that Parliament is not sitting.
The MPs have allowances such as constituency, hospitality, communication and acting allowance increased by six percent.