P100 million Bot50 joke
Baboki Kayawe | Friday June 3, 2016 15:50
The extra-financing has not been specified yet. According to organisers, budget supplementation will be considered only in need to raise public morale. With just a little over two months left to the major celebration, the coordinating committee was to meet yesterday to draw a budgetary breakdown of all activities that prelude Botswana Day as well as headlining events.
Kgotlafela made the startling revelation about Bot50, when the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture (MYSC), which is overseeing the celebrations, made an appearance before the PAC this week. To this end, the coordinators say the bulk of the money, P14 million, has so far gone into production of choreography, with a theatrical fusion that chronicles the birth of sovereign Botswana from 1966 to date.
In addition to the choreography, two main shows have been held in Lobatse and Selebi Phikwe. But Kgotlafela did not provide budget breakdown to the Committee. At present, the fund is running at a balance of P71 million. The balance will go towards the “renovation” of the national stadium where the main event shall be hosted, the PAC heard.
Subsequent to the ministry’s PAC appearance, Mmegi met with Kgotlafela to seek clarity on preparations for the big day. She revealed that the board was set to meet yesterday to finalise the line-up of events as well as budget breakdown.
“We were allocated P100 million by the MYSC for this event, but I can tell you that is not enough for the celebrations. We are sharing the budget with our missions across the globe because the intention is to have every Motswana in every part of the world joining in the celebrations. We are also giving about P200,000 to districts to fund their activities,” she said.
Moreover, Kgotlafela said they are also responsible for financing the team that is taking the roving torch around Botswana. She added the chunk of the money will be used in the relocation of the national stadium exit gate to carter for the anticipated 23,000 potential attendees since the carrying capacity of the venue has increased.
“We will also be showcasing mostly machinery props. The float will be huge- loader trucks hence we want to widen the gate to avoid congestion and facilitate for smooth movement,” she said. Moreover, the stadium, currently being renovated at the tune of P45 million, will see Bot50 replacing broken chairs, provision for costume for about 4,500 children that will be engaged in the grand festivity. However, the scope of the current renovation, it has been explained, does not extend to fixing damaged chairs.
To make the venue attractive, a budgetary provision of P1.5million has been set aside. “We are yet to get an accurate budget from the contractor, but for now that is what we have budgeted,” she said.
When PAC members asked whether the budget provided was all the BOT50 activities required, Kgotlafela responded by saying it was not a done deal, as they may have to carry out “some activities that may create a national hype”. Criticism that preparations for this celebration are highly characterised by randomness and haphazardness has been thick lately. “Not so,” Kgotlafela insisted. “We have a plan of activities. Perhaps the problem is that these are not widely publicised.” She said extra budgeting could be necessitated by the need for an event to heighten public hype, and that this may not necessarily open room for misuse of funds as monitory mechanisms are in place to guard against that.
“To guard against that, there are district commissioners who have a long history of chairing Independence Day committees. Local leaders, council secretaries and MYSC coordinators are on board. The funds will be channelled through the ministry,” she said. Member of the PAC, and MP for Tati East Guma Moyo had asked for greater transparency and openness as activities of the organising body are shrouded in secrecy.
“People want to have access to all these activities. Young people want to have access and a piece of the P71million. You are not transparent and it’s killing us. Your activities and tenders need to be made public,” Moyo remonstrated.
However, Kgotlafela told Mmegi that their procurement processes have been open and advertised in the Government Gazette. “Perhaps what’s lacking is publicising our activities. We will need to do a lot more. The organising committee is meeting today to discuss how to maximise public information. All awarded tenders, those to be awarded and all activities will be shared with the public,” she said.