Africa-Press – Botswana. Assistant Minister of Health Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe has urged the ministry employees to work hard and build confidence in the procurement and tendering systems.
Officially opening the Ministerial Corruption Prevention Committee 5th annual Corruption Prevention Pitso in Palapye on Wednesday, Mr Lelatisitswe said for quite some time the ministry had been on the spotlight for the wrong reasons often portrayed as corrupt in the award of tenders.
“We have been portrayed in some quarters as a corrupt ministry that corruptly awards tenders to some companies and people. This is a sad situation indeed. We definitely need to do something about it,” he said.
He said the Pitso marked continued efforts of the ministry towards zero tolerance of corruption.
Mr Lelatisitswe said corruption was a global phenomenon that impedes development and promoted inequality and injustice.
He observed that across the globe on any day, at any given time, the hopes and aspirations of ordinary people were being ruined by the monster, being corruption.
However, Mr Lelatisitswe said the Pitso was striving to strengthen solidarity among the employees, members of the Corruption Prevention Committee and other stakeholders to fight the cancerous act of corruption.
Mr Lelatisitswe said the theme: Strengthening collective efforts for a corrupt free MoH, was seeking to establish solidarity between in the ministry.
He said the theme was based on the Setswana proverb; ‘Setshwarwa ke ntsa pedi ga se thata’ or ‘Kgetsi ya tsie e kgonwa ke go tshwaraganelwa’, meaning they should bring their strengths and interests together to win the fight against corruption.
Mr Lelatisitswe said President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi has emphasised through the Reset Agenda for the nation to unite against whatever that was pulling them back such as corruption.
He said President Masisi has appealed to the nation to stand together in the fight against corruption and its various manifestations within the public service.
Therefore, he said it was important to bring all concerned stakeholders on board and take appropriate steps to prevent and address corruption allegations of corruption within the ministry well on time.
“Address existing perceptions of corruption in the ministry,” he said.
He said there was need to have mechanisms in place to close any gaps that may allow corruption to take root in the ministry.
He encouraged all to take advantage of the Pitso, reflect and look at the processes and systems in place with the view to identify existing gaps.
For More News And Analysis About Botswana Follow Africa-Press
