08 Feb 2015

Public servants play a critical role in taking government services to the people hence the need to increase their wages, says Francistown West MP Mr Ignatius Moswaane

Debating the budget speech on Thursday, February 5, Mr Moswaane said a financially demotivated workforce tends to deliver poor results which have the potential of causing “irreparable harm” to the economy.

He said when public servants decide to put their tools down on account of low wages it will cause the damage that should have otherwise been avoided by drawing funds from the surplus budget.

Further Mr Moswaane said public servants salaries increase were delayed by the back and forth negotiations between government and the Public Service Bargaining Council adding that decisions on public servants salaries increments should be left to Parliament.

 “The buck should stop with us,”he said, adding that the Bargaining Council salaries negotiations have taken too long.

“The surplus budget should be used to increase public servants salaries, otherwise they will deliberately drag their feet rendering poor service because they are not paid well,” he said. 

On citizen empowerment Mr Moswaane advocated for laws that compel foreigners to partner with Batswana when they submit tenders, “whoever wants to tender must partner with Batswana,” he said adding that this will place Batswana in full control of their economy.

Further, he suggested that the Youth Grant of P100  000 should be doubled as it is not sufficient for business startups.

He also suggested that MPs salaries be doubled and a 10 per cent increment across the board be effected for civil servants in order to meet the workers’ needs. ENDS