State President Receives Largest Share

The P13.05 billion stake is an increase of P502.77 million or 4.01 percent over this year’s approved budget. Delivering the National Budget for the financial year 2026/2027 in Gaborone on Monday, Vice president, also Minister of Finance, Mr Ndaba Gaolathe said the proposed budget would largely cover operational requirements of the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) and the Botswana Police Service (BPS), reflecting government’s continued commitment to safeguarding national security. The proposed budget will also finance the absorption of Special Constables into Regular Constable Cadre as well as procurement of their uniform.

In addition, provisions have been made for Termination Allowances; Service Charges and Static Plant under the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC). The second largest share, P12.99 billion, is allocated to the Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, representing an increase of P1.71 billion or 15.2 per cent, compared to the allocation for the previous financial year. Mr Gaolathe said the substantial allocation underscored government’s commitment to strengthening social development and enhancing service delivery within local government structures and traditional affairs.

The allocation is intended to improve the ministry’s operational capacity, ensure effective functionality and sustained provisions of essential services to communities across the country, he said, adding that the significant growth was primarily attributable to the transfer of funding from the Ministry of Health to support the Primary Health Care function, which was reassigned to the Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs as part of the 2024 rationalisation of ministerial portfolios. Further, a substantial portion of the budget is also allocated to the social welfare programmes, which continue to experience significant growth. These, the minister said, included Destitute Allowances, Old Age Pension Scheme, Orphan Care Programme and the newly introduced Sanitary Ware Support Initiative for mothers and babies, which is scheduled for roll out this budget year.

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The Revenue Support Grant (RSG) will likewise continue to receive increased subvention in response to rising demands. However, to mitigate escalating pressure on the RSG, Mr Gaolathe urged local authorities to expedite the review and valuation of properties in districts such as Gamalete and Palapye. This initiative is expected to broaden the revenue base, strengthen local revenue mobilisation and reduce over-reliance on Government funding. The third largest share of the proposed budget is allocated to the Ministry of Child Welfare and Basic Education, amounting to P11.83 billion, an increase of P147.85 million or 1.3 per cent over the current year’s approved budget.

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