29 Nov 2016

1.The Ministry of Defence, Justice and Security herewith responds to a news article in the Botswana Gazette newspaper of Wednesday 23 November 2016 on its front page under a false headline ‘P22 billion for jet fighters and spy gadgets,’ by Tshiamo Tabane.  We are also surprised that the editor of the newspaper could have allowed his newspaper to publish such a factually incorrect and misleading story without first seeking out the true facts about the matter. We hold the view that this was wrong, unprofessional and unethical.  It is our expectation therefore that the editor should hold his reporter accountable for misleading the nation.

2. We would like to state for a fact that neither the Ministry of Defence, Justice and Security nor the BDF has plans to purchase fighter jets and/or spy gadgets for P22.4 billion. The budget request submitted by the minister in respect of the Botswana Defence Force did not give any breakdown or procurement plans as it was not necessary to do. In his submission, as the chairman of the Thematic Working Group (TWG), the Minister of Defence, Justice and Security sought  from Parliament approval of P22.4 billion under Chapter 8 of NDP 11 which constituted the entire budget for Governance, Safety and Security Thematic Working Group (TWG).

3. In justifying his request he focused on policies, strategies, programmes and legislation envisaged under the TWG in NDP 11 Chapter 8 and not on any budgetary breakdown for any department or ministry hence he could not have stated that such budget was going to be used for BDF procurement. Factually, in his presentation he highlighted that the TWG was made up of several ministries and departments falling into the two sub sectors i.e. governance and safety and security.  

4. As he indicated, governance comprised the Administration of Justice; the Attorney General’s Chambers; the Directorate of Public Prosecution; the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC); the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC); the Ombudsman; the Ministry of International Affairs and Cooperation; the Directorate of Public Service Management; the National Assembly; the Auditor General and the local governance and customary justice system structure which fall under the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development. 

5.  The other sub-sector, safety and security comprises the Botswana Defence Force; the Botswana Police Service; the Department of Prisons and Rehabilitation; the Department of Immigration and Citizenship in the Ministry of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs; aviation security under the Ministry of Transport and Communication; radiation security under the Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing Development; and disaster management which falls under the Office of the President. 

6. We can confirm that the presentation made by the minister on 21 November 2016 did not in any way give breakdown of the budget sought. Further to this, we can also confirm that the minister’s presentation of the 22^nd November 2016 highlighted general budgetary allocations. It did not suggest or outline any procurement in respect of the Botswana Defence Force or any of its departments. 

7. In this regard, the Ministry of Defence, Justice and Security demands that the reporter and the editor of Gazette newspaper should retract the story, and apologise to the Ministry of Defence, Justice and Security and the nation for a misleading and factually incorrect story carried in their newspaper.ENDS