Minister Seretse - Leader of the Opposition consulted on appointment of Parliamentary Committee on Intelligence and Security

source: Republic of Botswana (17/3/09): TAUTONA TIMES no 7 of 2009
The Weekly Electronic Press Circular of the Office of the President
"Democracy, Development, Dignity and Discipline"

C2) 10/3/09: Minister Seretse - Leader of the Opposition consulted on appointment of Parliamentary Committee on Intelligence and Security

The Minister for Defence, Justice and Security, the Hon. R.N. Seretse, today re-confirmed that the Leader of the Opposition had been consulted on the appointment of the Parliamentary Committee on Intelligence and Security, as well as the setting of the Tribunal.

Responding to a question by the MP for Lobatse, Mr. M.N. Modubule, the Minister stated that, in accordance with provisions of the Intelligence and Security Service Act, 2007, both the Leader of the Opposition and the Speaker of the National Assembly had been consulted on the appointments to the Parliamentary Committee and the Tribunal.

The Minister further stated that H.E. the President had called the Leader of the Opposition to his office, where the President had indicated the names of people that he considered suitable for appointment to the two oversight structures, in order to seek the Opposition Leader's comments or views.

The Minister further stated that, upon being presented with the names, the Leader of the Opposition told the President that he had no problems with the appointments. The Minister further emphasized that had the Leader of the Opposition held any contrary views or preferences about either the appointments or the manner of consultation he then had the opportunity to express his views to the President.  

The Minister went on to remind Parliament that the Leader of the Opposition in his own comments on the Committee of Supply debates on the budget for departments under Defence, Justice and Security had himself confirmed that he did not express his any contrary views or preferences but had rather reluctantly concurred with the President on the appointments.

The Minister also affirmed that the Speaker of the National Assembly had been consulted in the same manner as the Leader of the Opposition and that he also had had no problems with the names or the appointments.

The Minister observed that it was thus his considered view that, having been consulted, if the Leader of the Opposition had any contrary views he failed to use the opportunity to engage with the President on them.

On a separate matter the Minister, again responding to a question raised by the MP for Lobatse, confirmed that although the construction of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) offices in Lobatse had not been mentioned in the Committee of Supply Speech, the project has been provided for under the Directorate's development budget for 2009/2010. 

He further noted that out of the DPP budget of just over 66 Million pula the amount of 5 Million was earmarked for the completion of designs and the commissioning of a contractor for the office. He further noted that the budget allocation is contained in the Estimates Book which was presented before and approved by this Parliament.  

He also observed that since August 2007, Government had been able to do a site suitability report, preliminary Environmental Impact Assessment (for exemption from full EIA), Topographic Survey, Geo-Technical Survey, preliminary design and a detailed design. The designs are expected to be completed by end of April, 2009, which should allow for the commissioning of a contractor to start work in the third quarter of 2009.