29 Jun 2014

President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama has informed public servants that government will consider increasing their salaries only if the economic outlook improved. 

Addressing public servants in Molepolole on June 26, President Khama said an increment will be effected only if the national economy showed signs of positive growth.

He further explained that the decision to introduce a recession allowance for government employees on low salary scales was meant to cushion them against effects of the recession.

“The pyramid increases that public servants demand cannot work because overtime, with every increase, those earning low salaries will eventually be on the same level with employees earning higher salaries,” said President Khama.

He also revealed that at the moment government was putting aside some funds for emergencies such as drought and power cuts as they affected all Batswana. He agreed that inflation and price increases had eroded buying power among public servants and the general public.

However, President Khama said public servants had not appreciated government’s decision to preserve jobs.

“Unlike other countries, we did not lay off employees in order to cut the wage bill. You must also appreciate that as government we had to make sure that we don’t drive this country into debt,” he said.

President Khama also revealed that Botswana had outclassed other countries in the region as it was the only country that was showing signs of positive economic growth.

He also warned Batswana to be futuristic as the country’s finances come from one source. He also encouraged public servants to make sure that they kept the economy alive in a responsible manner.

Responding to requests by public servants that the A scale be abolished, President Khama said increment would be a better option because abolishing the A scale would cause chaos. He added that government gave public servants a recession allowance to buffer such scales. 

He also said more needed to be done without forgetting those who were not working. He challenged all public servants to improve service delivery and take the country forward despite all the challenges they were facing. 

On other issues, Minister of Lands and Housing Mr Lebonaamang Mokalake revealed that government ws working towards introducing social housing for public servants. ENDS