Africa-Press – Botswana. Government is working with recognised trade unions to review recruitment, selection, appointment policy and procedures as well as remuneration structure.
This was said by Minister of State President Mr Kabo Morwaeng Friday when addressing public officers in Letlhakane.
He was responding to Mr Mmoloki Golekilweng of forestry and range resources department’s concern that some public sector drivers had stagnated.
Mr Golekilweng said he had been on the same scale since 1999 while others who joined the service after him had progressed.
The minister said he was aware of concerns regarding delayed progression in the public service characterised by stagnation at top notches of salary scales and inadequate vacant positions across ministries and departments.
Another officer, Mr Albert Galeboe, complained that public officers were only informed of their government debts at the time of retirement.
As a result, most people left almost empty handed, he said.
Meanwhile Mr Morwaeng has stressed the need for all government employees to do things better and faster.
Government, he said, had invested heavily in ICT which must be used optimally to improve work outcomes and service delivery.
Minister Morwaeng said as the world economy was now driven by technology, Botswana planned to be among the pacesetters in ICT usage to conduct business and service the rest of the world.
He therefore called on public officers to rise to the challenge and compete with the best in the world.
Mr Morwaeng said public officers had the responsibility of facilitating the private sector to become more competitive on the global stage.
Public officers should double efforts to facilitate wealth creation in the economy through the private sector, he said.
The minister said value chain development was required for the economy to grow at the set target of 5.7 per cent annually.
Mr Morwaeng also urged public officers to ensure that they enabled and promoted locals to excel in business.
“Make doing business in Botswana the easiest and most enjoyable process,” he said.
Minister Morwaeng implored them to spearhead implementation of empowerment schemes geared at improving Botswana’s economy.
“I urge you to be conversant with government policies, programmes and schemes that can be used by all of you to improve the lives of Batswana,” he said.
The minister also spoke about the ongoing rationalisation of ministries to bring similar functions together in order to eliminate duplication and achieve cost effectiveness as well as quality service.
Mr Morwaeng stated that the role of public servants was to put government programmes into effect.
It was not acceptable to sabotage and frustrate government policies through political activism, he said urging public officers to exercise neutrality in accordance with the Public Service Charter.
He implored them to have self-control, differentiate issues, remain focused on their line of work and avoid being partisan.
“If anything gets out of control, government will be blamed, serve the public without taking sides,” said the minister.
On the constitutional review, he informed his audience that government was actively considering recommendations made by the commission.
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