Gov’t increases Khama, Mogae budget

Khama PIC: MORERI SEJAKGOMO
Khama PIC: MORERI SEJAKGOMO

Having cut former presidents’ budget in the previous years, it looks like the enmity between President Mokgweetsi Masisi and former president Ian Khama wont factor this time around with the government set to increase the former president's budget in the coming financial year ending March 2025.

While former president Festus Moage’s budget will increase as well, Khama’s budget has been a talking point in the past because of the rivalry with his successor. Khama’s budget will see an increase of P837, 580. In the 2023-24 financial year, Khama’s office authorised expenditure was P3.7 million but the budget estimates shows that Khama’s office will now get P4.5 million Even though former president Khama has been in self-imposed exile in South Africa since 2021, government last year indicated that the latter’s office in Botswana is still operating at full capacity. It is also worth noting that since relocating to South Africa, Khama has been utilising his travel expenditure.

Therefore among the increases in his budget this time around is his travelling and transport funds. Khama’s authorised expenditure for internal travel transportation costs in the current financial was P15, 000 but the amount is set to increase to P40, 000 in the 2024-25 year. Subsistence costs (internal travel) have also been slightly increased from P15, 000 to P20, 000. Transportation costs (external travel) have also slightly increased from P395, 000 to P400, 000. Among other things which have ballooned Khama’s budget is uniforms and protective clothing which has since risen from the authorised P20, 250 in the current financial year to P41, 250 in the upcoming financial year.

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