04 Mar 2015

Ghanzi district animal production officer, Mr Eric Mesho says there is still high rate of corruption amongst public servants. Mr Mesho said this recently at the Ministry of Agriculture corruption policy statement launch in Ghanzi.

He said rampant corruption impacts on public confidence in service delivery. Mr Mesho said his ministry acknowledged the impact of corruption and its implications on public confidence in service delivery, socio economic development as well as national food security of the country.

He cautioned employees to avoid situations where private interests conflicts with public duty; reminding them that they should always meet public interests and accountability standards.

Therefore, he said they aimed to achieve a corruption free work environment by instilling a culture of anti-corruption in the workplace through education and sensitisation of employees in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.

He explained that their efforts as a ministry were geared towards the values of Botho, teamwork, customer focus, innovation and integrity. The values, Mr Mesho noted were committed in their strategy to achieve food security. He noted that the corruption prevention policy document aimed to empower and capacitate the employees of the Ministry of Agriculture.

He said the document would assist them in executing their duties towards attaining food security within acceptable ethical standards. The document sets out beliefs of the ministry and what they stand for as well their expectations in day to day business with their customers.

Meanwhile, Kgosi Botshelo Lekgothu of Ghanzi Township cautioned employees on corruption activities in the workplace. He said corruption did not only involve stealing government goods and/or money, but also misusing government time.

He said being unproductive on the job is corruption on its own, adding that most farmers in Ghanzi decry of unproductive employees on daily basis. ENDS