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Proposed presidential benefits stir public outrage

Masisi. PIC PHATSIMO KAPENG. Masisi. PIC PHATSIMO KAPENG.
Masisi. PIC PHATSIMO KAPENG.

The same will also apply to the former vice president and their spouse and children. President Mokgweetsi Masisi, who has since expressed regret at conferring former president Ian Khama with additional retirement benefits, could face a revolt from voters. This is despite the fact that the President had achieved quite a lot and placing him above opposition parties ahead of the 2024 polls. Now, with the amount of dissent towards the Bill and quietness of those who would usually rush to defend the presidency, it is almost clear the Bill will dent Masisi and his party’s chances of victory in the October slated General Election.

The Bill

At the last Winter session of Parliament, the Minister for State President, Kabo Morwaeng, is expected to table the Amendment Bill No. 12 of 2024 that states that children of presidents should benefit from presidents’ pensions and retirement benefits. “The object of the Bill is to amend Section 2 of the Presidents (Pensions and Retirements Benefits) by inserting the definition of dependent child in the section,” reads the Bill. The Bill further suggests that spouses of former presidents should also benefit from the president’s pensions and retirement benefits post-presidency. Further, it alludes that even if the former president passes on, their children and partners should continue receiving the welfare from the retirement benefits. “Amend Section 3 of the Act to specify the benefits of the spouse of a person who has held the Office of the President. Section 4 of the Act such that a dependent child of a person who has held the Office of the President is able to benefit in their own right, and not just when the surviving spouse dies,” reads the Bill. Finally, the Bill suggests that upon retirement, the person who has held the Office of the President should be given six cars including one for their spouse.

Daylight robbery The Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Dithapelo Keorapetse, says 'daylight robbery' is what the two Bills really are. He states that the proposed law for the President’s retirement package is a clear sign that 'President Masisi’s greed is on steroids and that he has absolutely no iota of decency.' “The law must be rejected as it is embarrassing, unreasonable and a huge cost to taxpayers. Batswana cannot pay for the President, his spouse upon his demise and then an unlimited number of children born in and out of wedlock and those that are adopted. It is simply wrong! President Masisi has long re-purposed the State to suit his own interests and those of his family and business associates,” he said. Keorapetse said as the UDC in Parliament, they are not surprised at all by the Bill because 'Masisi has exuded greed since he ascended to the high office of President.' He said Masisi has allocated himself a State Farm, recently sponsored a law to pay himself a constituency allowance when he has no constituency and is taken care of by the State including transportation, accommodation and food. “He has set up numerous commercial ventures and has partnered with businesspeople who do business with government, people who are known to be involved in unfair business practices. This President has used the State to promote his own interests and those of his family members who continue to get big tenders from government. He has acquired properties in a speed never seen before in the history of this country,” he said. Keorapetse further said it could also be that Vice President Slumber Tsogwane is enticed to leave or that the ruling party senses defeat at the polls and that is why they are securing the future of the Vice President through a retirement package for a former Vice President. “It is wrong to use the State to address purely partisan issues like succession battles or plans. The package is also unreasonable and exorbitant for the taxpayer. Batswana must reject this unprecedented bonanza for the President, his wife and children/dependents and his Vice in a country afflicted by unemployment, poverty, income and wealth inequalities and so much corruption. The government has rejected calls to have fair entitlement guarantee scheme or unemployment benefit to secure the future of workers whenever they are unemployed for whatever reason. They have failed to enact better retrenchment policies and schemes and dismally failed to provide better pensions for soldiers and civil servants who continue to retire into poverty. Batswana must remove these people from power,” he exclaimed.

Irresponsible, selfish

For Francistown West legislator, Wynter Mmolotsi, the amendment of the pensions for the President and VP is to say the least an irresponsible and selfish move by the President and his party. “It is unacceptable for the BDP to think that Batswana should fund the lifestyle of the spouses of the President and Vice President as well as their biological and adopted children. Like any other employee of government, the President and his Vice should support their families and desist from attempting to use State resources to support their unlimited number of adopted children. President Masisi is now trying Batswana's patience which is already running out,” he said. Mmolotsi said he is diametrically opposed to the Bill because it is wrong in the first place and likely to dig deep into the fiscas. “We need jobs for Batswana and services to the nation and that should be our priority,” he said.

Shocking, devoid of logic

For Botswana National Front (BNF), the move is shocking, devoid of logic and plain unnecessary. “Instead of announcing the date of the General Election, which Batswana wait in baited breath for and preparing for the inevitable transition, the BDP government, at a time such as this, is busy making lucrative retirement arrangements for President Masisi and his family. The BNF calls on all progressive forces to reject the Bill. We call on parliamentarians of conscience from both sides of the aisle to vehemently reject this Bill. It should not come to fruition,” the BNF publicity secretary, Tumelo Legase said. In its current form, Legase said the Bill seeks to steal from the taxpayers to finance a lifestyle of opulence and glamour of President Masisi's family. He said the BDP government has effected budgetary cuts in key public services such as health and tertiary education sponsorships, compromising the very health and future of the nation. Yet in the face of all of that, Morwaeng has found it fit to propose a Bill that will increase the taxpayers’ expenditure to finance the extravagant lifestyle of a retired President and his family, deviating funds that could go into bettering services for the masses of people. This, he said, is totally unacceptable and an insult to the poor, unemployed youths and working class. “While we understand that the BDP is on panic mode and extremely anxious about losing the next General Election, we do not condone this Bill, which extorts the fiscas to please President Masisi and his family. The nation must recall that it was the BDP government, which paid President Masisi a constituency allowance when he has no constituency. This Bill follows in that same trajectory of pleasing and enriching a single individual and his family while Batswana languish in the peripheries of their own economy,” he said.

Audacious, politically charged move

The Botswana Patriotic Front Youth League (BPFYL) has also unequivocally condemned what they termed Morwaeng's audacious and politically charged proposal to amend the Presidents’ pension’s Bill. They state that it represents a grave assault on the principles of justice, fairness, and democratic integrity. “This proposal, tabled under the guise of welfare, is a blatant misuse of public funds and a flagrant display of political favouritism that threatens the integrity of our democratic principles. We see this as a scheme to enrich the families of former presidents at the expense of the taxpayer and an act of fiscal irresponsibility that stands in stark contrast to the principles of transparency and accountability,” BPFYL President, Tebo Gokatweng said. She further said this proposal is not just a misguided policy, it is a direct assault on the very fabric of our democratic values. It seeks to create a new aristocracy of former presidential families entrenched in financial privilege while ordinary citizens face economic challenges. “This act represents a cynical exploitation of political office for personal gain, and it is imperative that Batswana vote in a government whose policies are driven by principles of equity and justice. Ke Nako for Botswana to vote in a government that prioritises the public good over the enrichment of a select few for a change,” she said.

Bopelotshetlha!

For the Botswana Congress Party (BCP), the real Masisi continues to reveal himself, 'as a greedy President.' “The proposed Bill by Morwaeng shows that for Masisi and his family, nothing the State provides can ever be enough! Their greed is without limit and any iota of shame. They do not care at all about the plight of Batswana, the majority of whom can barely afford to put food on the table. President Masisi, like all other former presidents of Botswana, will be taken care of by the State for the rest of his life! Thus says the law of Botswana,” they wrote in a Facebook statement. They argue that there is no need for the President to want his children, hidden dependents, and wives to continue benefiting from Batswana's taxes. “Because he is greedy. This greed seems to run in the BDP blood. Remember what happened at the end of former president Ian Khama's presidency? The BDP Members of Parliament, led by the same Masisi, pulled an all nighter, to ensure that Khama gets all his fantasies for retirement. And they succeeded! To the BDP, our Parliament exists to satisfy the pleasures and desires of its sitting President. You Batswana do not matter! It matters not who is in charge. It is deeply rooted in the party as a culture!' they exclaimed.