22 Mar 2016

It is  important for public servants to be committed to their duty in order to bring results.

Speaking during Lobatse public service day debate, Lobatse town clerk, Ms Boikhutso Matenge, said though conditions of service for public servants might not be conducive, there was need for them to serve the nation diligently.

It was for this reason that government came up with an initiative to reward creativity and good performance in the public service.

Ms Matenge encouraged public servants to always find a way of boosting each other’s morale, supporting each other and working as a team.

She said, as the nation’s public service comes to its 50th year, it was important for the current crop of public servants to appreciate where the journey started.

Also important, she said, was to pay attention to the public service heroes and heroines who had a vision to develop this country from nothing.

She said, days like these were set for public servants to find time to interact, celebrate each other, share ideas and learn from each other.

Lobatse deputy mayor, Mr Francis Mokwena, motivated the public servants who attended the public service day debate, encouraging them to continue the good job they were  doing.

Mr Mokwena said it was important to reflect on the milestone the country, adding that public servants were still united and proud of their country.

He said collective efforts and team work were key in creating a positive working environment that resulted in better production.

He encouraged all departments across the spectrum to ensure that they hold annual awards ceremonies to recognise those employees who perform better and to encourage none performers to pull up their socks.

Mr Mokwena said the past generation of public servants has goals to reach adding that he was sure they were sitting wherever they were,  smiling considering where they took Botswana from and where it is now.

All officers, he said were urged to ensure that by the time they retire, they should leave a mark of their input to public service.

In her closing remarks, Lobatse head of District Health Management Team (DHMT), Ms Tilwane Mokgatle, said public servants have the reason to celebrate as they come a long way in building this country to where it is today.

Ms Mokgatle said it was also very important to note that the current crop of public servants were  not the pioneers of public service, but all that they have done was to take the baton from the heroes and heroins of public service who have built public service from scratch.

She said, these were the very people who knock in our places of work in need of our service and therefore important to serve them with diligence and respect.

She highlighted that public service was all about developing the people and the nation and therefore important to serve the people better for the sake of developing Botswana.

She encouraged officers to love their jobs and serve with passion, discouraging backbiting and tendencies of hatred among themselves adding that such tendencies delay productivity in the work place.

  As  a build up to the Lobatse district public service day which is slated for April 20, public servants held public debate, presenting various themes concerning public service.

The three themes done in forms of poems, drama and presentations were Public Service principles, public service values , Ethics and Innovation.

Various officers presented themes and reminded each other of the public service charter and that it is very important for public officers to abide by.

On values and ethics, public servants reminded themselves of the values and ethics of public service that they were  supposed to embrace on their day to day duties.

On the Innovation theme, presenters looked at where the nation’s public service comes from in terms of development and how far public officers have innovative minds that led to technological advancements. 

More build up activities towards the public service day celebrations are the cultural exposition and talent show which will come in a form of competition encompasses poetry, drama, contemporary dance and choir competitions.

A professional exposition and a beauty contest will also be held to curtain raise and arouse excitement for public servants to celebrate the  day.

This year’s public service day is celebrated under the theme, ‘    50 years of public service - a united and proud nation’. Ends