Africa-Press – Botswana. Government is ready to assign a team of public service officials to Gambia to assist in the implementation of public policy frame work, says the Minster for State President, Mr Kabo Morwaeng
Mr Morwaeng said this in Gaborone Friday when bidding farewell to Gambian delegation that was on a week-long visit in the country to learn on the public service operations.
The delegation learnt how Botswana was conducting issues of integrated personnel and information systems, citizen-state engagement processes and performance management systems, among other things.
“I have learnt that the study tour has been characterised by cheerful and fruitful engagements, which I believe were beneficial to both the Gambian and Botswana delegations,” said Mr Morwaeng.
In addition he said the study visit offered both countries an opportunity to strengthen bilateral ties.
“I hope these relations will spur other sectors of cooperation between our two countries,’’ he emphasized.
For his part, Gambian Minister of Public Service, Mr Baboucarr Bouy, thanked Botswana government and the host department, the Department of Public Service Management (DPSM) for the warm hospitality.
He, however, mentioned that the study tour had provided the delegation with an opportunity to learn Botswana’s management as well as coordination arrangements and approach to reform.
“The lesson learnt will greatly help us in adopting international best practices in our drive to modernise our public service,” he said.
Mr Bouy highlighted that some of the take away from the visit was that they learnt that Permanent Secretary in the Office of the President was the head of the public service as well as the cabinet secretary.
He also said they learnt that there were common offices across ministries such as transformation office which facilitated the implementation of reforms. Interestingly, he said, 30 per cent of the public service leadership were women and that positions of deputy director’s level and above were employed on contractual basis.
He nevertheless expressed gratitude saying he looked forward to a stronger partnership between the two countries.
For her part, DPSM director, Ms Gaone Macholo, said the delegation was also made to appreciate the kgotla system as well as how the government of Botswana had implemented public services reforms.
She said they hoped the Gambian government would explore possibilities of exchanging these practices in particular the formation of the ministry of state president.
Furthermore, she said the delegation was made to appreciate the performance management system in public service, the importance of employee relations especially that Botswana had nine unions to work with.
Although challenging, Ms Macholo said the unions were a wonderful partner to work with to drive performance strategies.
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