27 May 2014

Acting Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Mr Shaw Kgathi says rewarding employees is about taking stock of the ministry in the context of its service to the nation.



Speaking at the Ministry of State President’s second awards ceremony in Gaborone on May 23, he said the 27 employees being honoured had answered the challenge to demonstrate dedication to public service delivery.



“I trust that their example will in turn inspire others to also raise their workplace performance. We enhance our democracy when we are mindful that we work within a government that is constituted of, by and for the people it serves,” he said.



Mr Kgathi said the ministry’s mission was to promote sustainable development so as to secure dignity for Botswana through improved quality of life, adding that this required the effective and efficient delivery of public policies and programmes by civil servants who exercised individual and collective discipline.



“My message to all civil servants, more especially our younger staff members is that upholding high levels of productivity does not depend on qualifications and remuneration packages but rather upon due diligence, dedication, single mindedness and personal sacrifices,” said Minister Kgathi.



He said even though the ministry was rewarding employees who performed exceptionally well, the ministry should be mindful of Botswana’s wider challenges.



“In recent years, Botswana’s rank in World Economic Forum’s Annual Global Competitiveness Index has been held down by perceptions of poor work ethic in both the public and private sector,” he said.



The acting minister said in the absence of national competitiveness borne of good work ethic, the country would not be able to fulfill its vision 2016 aspirations or diversify its economy to sustain Batswana in the coming years of diamond revenue decline.



The recipients of the awards were in three categories. Under category A, they received a sponsored weekend for two worth P13 000, category B received electronic gadgets voucher worth P4 000 while category C received a grocery voucher worth P2 000.



Minister Kgathi also gave a special award to an employee of department of broadcasting services, Ms Lesego Kgajwane for her outstanding performance  at  Radio Botswana and she received a weekend for two voucher worth P13 000.

Four employees of the department of information services were also recognised for their excellent performance. They were Messrs Puso Kedidimetse, Phemelo Motsilenyane, Basupi Golaotswemang and Ms Masego Pilane. Each of them received a P4 000 electronic gadgets voucher.

From broadcasting services, Mr Maikano Osekeng also received a P4 000 electronic gadgets voucher for excellent performance.

Category A, which was the minister’s award was received by three officers of department of government printing and publishing services and each officer from poverty eradication and Botswana government communication and information services were also recognised. 

Those who received awards under category B, were three officers of the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC), two from Corporate Service in the Office of the President, two from State House, two from National Disaster Management office and one officer from Botswana Public Service College, Directorate of Public Service  Management (DPSM) and NACA.

Under Category C, two officers from DCEC and each officer from NACA and State House received grocery vouchers worth P2 000. ENDS