Africa-Press – Botswana. Employees of Ministry of Transport and Public Works have been told that the government’s decision to restructure some ministries is purposely intended to deliver quality services to the public more efficiently and effectively.
The newly formed ministry has embarked on the second country consultation programme for the approved structure to update staff about the deployment structure and to highlight the changes that come as a result of re-organisation of the ministry and deployment of staff.
Although it seemed the exercise had brought about some discomfort to some employees as some felt demoralized and uncertain about their future, the Director of Procurement Oversight from the ministry, Ms Olebogilwe Mothofela allayed their fears saying the idea behind restructuring was to deliver quality service delivery as employees would be aligned to the right departments so that they apply exactly what they had trained for.
“The exercise aims to place you at the right departments so that you become more proficient and produce expected results,” she told the consultation meeting held at Maun Lodge on November 20.
As per the structure, she said districts would be manned by district coordinators assisted by deputy coordinators who would perform all the functions on behalf of the ministry and report directly to district commissioner and indirectly to the deputy permanent secretaries.
The gathering learnt that the new structure had three deputy permanent secretaries for public works, transport as well as logistics and corporate services, noting that some departments had been renamed.
Ms Mothofela also noted that the deployment structure has created many vacant posts which she said would be filled within the ministry adding that some employees would be transferred.
Representatives from different unions also urged employees to exercise patience and not panic as the exercise was meant to improve their competitiveness by cutting costs, support the reset and transformation agenda as well as to improve the country’s economic standing.
Botswana Public Employees Union (BOPEU) representative, Mr Naledi Nfana told the gathering that they had engaged the ministry to provide counselling sessions for those who would be transferred considering that some had overstayed.
He also informed the gathering that efforts were made to request the ministry to speed up the pace of payment of C band arrears.
Mr Motseothata Gopane from Manual Workers Union told the gathering that their jobs were secure, citing that the structure would not interfere with their jobs.
He assured the staff that their interests were well represented in the entire exercise adding that the structure was not a promotional process hence it could not phase out some scales such as A Scale.
While they appreciated the structure, some employees expressed concern that it would only benefit those already in senior positions and questioned what informed its development.
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