This week in Parliament Q/A

source: Republic of Botswana (11/7/09) TAUTONA TIMES no 18 of 2009
The Weekly Electronic Press Circular of the Office of the President
Democracy, Development, Dignity and Discipline

B6) Questions answered in Parliament by the Hon. Minister for Defence, Justice and Security:

B6a) 6/7/09: PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION NO. 684 ASKED ON BY Mr. D. Saleshando, MP. (Gaborone Central)

QUESTION: To ask the Minister for Defence, Justice and Security if the constitutional provision detailing the procedure for the appointment of judges, expressly empowers the President to reject recommendations made by the Judicial Service Commission.

ANSWER: Mr. Speaker, the Constitution of Botswana provides that the power to appoint Judges ultimately resides with the President. In making such appointments the President is advised by the Judicial Service Commission. The advice given by the Judicial Service Commission is tendered to assist the President in reaching a decision. The Constitution does not expressly state what the President can do or not do with the advice, but considering that “advice” is a recommendation and is offered for a future action, it is reasonable to expect that the person so advised may in his/her future action take or reject the advice. To hold otherwise would render the constitutional provision absurd. I thank you, Mr. Speaker.

B6b) 6/7/09: QUESTION NO. 685 BY Mr. C. M. Batsile, MP. (Kanye North)

QUESTION: To ask the Minister for Defence, Justice and Security when the construction of Kanye Magistrate Court will commence.

ANSWER: Mr. Speaker, Kanye Magistrate Court was approved to be built in the course of this financial year. In terms of our programme the Architectural design of the court is at the final stages and is expected to be completed this month (July). Construction is planned to commence in the second quarter of 2009/2010 financial year.

B6c) 6/7/09: PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION No. 690 asked by Ms B. M. Tshireletso MP (Mahalapye East)

QUESTION: To ask the Minister for Defence, Justice and Security to state:-

(i) The number of missing persons who have not been found since the year 2000 to date; and
(ii) Whether parents/relatives have received counselling from his Ministry.

ANSWER: Mr. Speaker,

(i) Since the year 2000 to date, a total of one hundred and twenty two (122) people, comprising of 85 males and 37 females, whose ages range from 2 years to 107 years, were reported missing and their whereabouts have remained unknown to the police, their parents and relatives. In the same period, one hundred and fifty-six (156) people comprising of 114 males and 42 females, whose ages range from 1 year to 90 years, were reported missing and later found dead.

(ii) There are no specific programmes geared towards providing counselling for the families/relatives. However from time to time, the police in conjunction with other local structures continue to update and further check for any information or developments regarding investigations of the missing persons. Thank you

B6d) 3/7/09: QUESTION NO. 647 ASKED BY Mr. P.P.P. Moatlhodi MP. (Tonota South)
QUESTION: To ask the Minister for Defence, Justice and Security whether it is true that the Commissioner of Police, through a Savingram dated 11th April 2009 requested all Botswana Local Police officers to be fingerprinted and medically examined before being considered for merger with the Botswana Police Service; if so, were members of the Botswana Local Police Service not fingerprinted and medically examined when they were first employed.

ANSWER: Mr. Speaker, It is true that as part of the agreed vetting process, the Commissioner of Police has directed the fingerprinting and medical examination of all Local Police officers whose records did not show that such examinations were done, before they could be considered for integration into the Botswana Police Service. Mr. Speaker, Records of some members of the Local Police Force did not contain any background investigation to include criminal records. It has therefore been found necessary to do such investigation. The same applies to medical examinations as there also have to be done to ensure that all have not fallen below the retention standard. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

B6e) 3/7/09: QUESTION NO. 650 ASKED BY Mr. P.P.P. Moatlhodi MP. (Tonota South)

QUESTION: To ask the Minister for Defence, Justice and Security:

i. When the Botswana Local Police Service Act was repealed
ii. Why members of the Botswana Local Police Service are still under the Ministry of Local Government performing duties they have always been doing in customary Courts; and
iii. The Minister should further say if he views the merger between the Botswana Police Service and the Botswana Local Police Service in serious light.

ANSWER: Mr. Speaker,

i. The Botswana Local Police Act has not been repealed yet.
ii. It will only be repealed after the conclusion of the merger. This is expected to be concluded by the end of August 2009. Until then, those who have not yet been attested into the Botswana Police will continue to perform duties under the Local Police Act, as they are still under the Ministry of Local Government.
iii. All that has been done so far to include an implementation plan for the merger is a clear reflection that I take the merger seriously. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

B6f) 3/7/09: Question No. 678 ASKED BY Mr. D. Saleshando, MP. (Gaborone Central)

QUESTION: To ask the Minister for Defence, Justice and Security to state:

i) the total cost of incurred by the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) to host the air show of 25th April 2009; and
ii) if he does not consider it necessary to suspend costly ceremonial exercises by the BDF and Botswana Police Services in view of the current economic downturn.

ANSWERS: Mr. Speaker, the total cost incurred by the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) to prepare for and host the air show of 25th April 2009 is P1 321 413.00 for fuel cost and other operational costs. Air displays in general provide the military in this case the BDF in particular an opportunity to hone the command, control and coordination skills of its air staff:

I. Sharpen the flying skills of the aircrews involved because of the heightened need for accuracy and pressure of displaying skills.
II. Also sharpen skills of the ground crews due to the reduced time-lines for turn around and sortie generations.
III. Displays of this nature further serve to increase ‘esprit de corps’ or team spirit and morale through the required team work during the exercise. This team work though difficult to measure and the skills honing/sharpening at ‘a – c’ are highly priced components of combat effectiveness, and thus combat readiness.
IV. Air displays are an instrument of taking the BDF to the general public of Botswana to foster good civil military relations. This is also an opportunity to education the public about the BDF and its mandate, as well as a recruiting opportunity as young Batswana learn and see the different skills set required in the BDF.
V. In conclusion Mr. Speaker, air displays are primarily training exercises aimed at enhancing the military’s combat readiness. In this view, the same expenditure would have been incurred in a similar training aimed at achieving the same objective. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.