P100 million Bot50 joke

Kgotlafela. PIC: KAGISO ONKATSWITSE
Kgotlafela. PIC: KAGISO ONKATSWITSE

Enhancers of public budgeting transparency have accused coordinators of Botswana’s golden jubilee independence celebrations of secretiveness and non-openness. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) raised the concern when Bot50 coordinator, Charity Kghotlafela stated that despite not having a clear and final plan of activities leading to the 50th independence anniversary, there was a likelihood the P100 million budget may run short.

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.

Editor's Comment
Don't let FMD outbreak drag on

Acting Agriculture Minister, Edwin Dikoloti, is right in saying opening an export-ready facility whilst Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is still spreading would risk getting the whole country blacklisted before a single carcass leaves the door.A ban like that would break the already stressed nation. So, the postponement, painful as it is, is the right thing to do. The local economy is being squeezed from both ends. FMD has already slammed the door...

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