P7 million for State House barracks

Staff Writer | Thursday March 31, 2011 00:00

 

Responding to a question in Parliament on Tuesday, Minister of Presidential Affairs and Public Administration Mokgweetsi Masisi briefly said, 'the total estimated cost for the conversion of the old Serious Crime Squad Offices to Botswana Defence Force Barracks at the State House is P7,034,149.'

This is an increase of P2 million, from a presentation made about 15 months ago by then Minister of Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Lesego Motsumi when presenting the proposals for National Development Plan 10. The barracks will house 60 soldiers, who will form the Presidential Guard.

Meanwhile, trouble seems to be brewing at army barracks in the country. Several handwritten letters have been passed to this paper in which anonymous soldiers are complaining about poor working conditions and the controversial BDF commuted allowance for junior officers. In addition to letters delivered to us, some individuals claiming to be soldiers have sought interviews dismissing a recent statement by the army Commander, Lieutenant General Tebogo Masire on the commutted allowance.

One of the retired soldiers claimed that soldiers are resigning en masse from the army after Masire told them that he had no jurisdiction over their salaries. 'He told a meeting at SSKB in July last year that he has no power over soldiers' salaries and that he has opened more gates for disgruntled soldiers to leave,' one retired soldier told Mmegi this week.

In one of the letters, the writers accuse government of favouring Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS) over soldiers, as they are provided with housing and transport. The anonymous soldiers argue that some of these DIS operatives were their colleagues at BDF and now they receive special treatment from government.

The Commander has on many occasions said that they would not allow any form of indiscipline and has denied reports that there is an exodus at BDF. He said that the resignations do not even account for one percent of annual intake.

The army's public affairs and protocol officer, Colonel Paul Sharp has also said that the army willnot tolerate any form of indiscipline.