MPs push to exclude ‘double dippers’ from Tandabala :: Mmegi Online

As senior citizens aged 65 years and above brace themselves for an Old Age Pension allowance of P1, 400 in April, Members of Parliament (MPs) are pushing for the exclusion of people who can afford to fend for themselves in the allowance popularly known as Tandabala.

The Leader of Opposition (LoO), Dumelang Saleshando, was the first to voice out that there should be a means test for Old Age Pension. Responding to the Budget Speech last week, Saleshando, who is the president of the main opposition Botswana Congress Party (BCP), said the government has indicated that the Child Grant support of P300 be subjected to a means test, meaning that those who can afford to bear the cost will not be assisted.

“The same should apply to old age pension, those that can afford to fend for themselves should not be paid the P1, 400,” he said.

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