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
Depression is real; let's take care of our mental health

It is not uncommon in this part of the world for parents to actually punish their children when they show signs of depression associating it with issues of indiscipline, and as a result, the poor child will be lashed or given some kind of punishment. We have had many suicide cases in the country and sadly some of the cases included children and young adults. We need to start looking into issues of mental health with the seriousness it...

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