Khama�s P34M retirement home bill shocker
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Friday February 24, 2017 17:27
In the Bill, Molale wants former Presidents to either stay in a house built specifically for them or draw a monthly housing allowance to allow for flexibility. The current Act allows the Government to build a house for the former president, which also includes offices. The property however belongs to the state and it does not have a provision that one could buy it.
Although the Bill has not yet reached Parliament, the minister hinted this out this week when he was answering a question from the MP for Francistown South, Wynter Mmolotsi who wanted to know if it is reasonable to budget P34 million for the retirement house of the President.
Even though the issue was not about the Bill, Mmolotsi questioned; “E le gore Minister Molale, o raya gore o tla ka Bill e e tlelang go baakanyetsa Tautona Ian Khama fela ka gore he is retiring? Ba bangwe ba ne ba ntse ba retire ka the conditions tse di tshwanang, ene o tshwanelwa ke gore o mo direle a special dispensation e a ka kgonang go tsaya housing allowance, for what?”
Mmolotsi said they are going to oppose the Bill because it has been crafted to suit an individual, which is not good for the country. “We cannot be changing Acts or laws for an individual. The status quo must prevail. The factors leading to the change of the Act must be laid down. Again some Acts should be done to benefit other politicians not individuals,” he said.
Molale said P34 million has not been budgeted for the President’s retirement house but instead the amount represents an estimated budget for the establishment of facilities of the President upon retiring from office.
“This budget has been accommodated within the budgetary ceiling for my Ministry for 2017/2018 and 2018/2019. In the first year (2017/2018) the provisional budget of P20 million will cover the following: P10 million for the refurbishment of the existing Government facility for use as office space; P3.6 million for transport requirements for the former HE and his staff; P2.5 million for furniture; P2.5 for office equipment and the remaining amount will be used for other necessities,” he said.