24 Apr 2016

Minister of Lands and Housing, Mr Prince Maele, says a productive and motivated workforce can deliver good service.

Speaking at the ministry’s awards ceremony in Palapye, Mr Maele said awards presented an opportunity for the ministry to reflect on its performance agenda.

He said even though the ministry did not succeed in all the challenges it faced, some initiatives were put in place to lift its face.

The minister also indicated that the ministry had improved its corporate image and service delivery, adding land boards no longer met quarterly but monthly.

“We have established land board committees to continuously deal with service delivery issues. We have decentralised common law leases, borehole applications and physical planning functions and our offices are open to the public over lunch hour across the country,” he said.

Mr Maele said waiting lists were now public and the ministry was also moving away from operating help desks to customer service centres. “These could not be achieved without performing staff,” he said.

Last year, he said, government introduced the Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP), a bold decision aimed at stimulating the economy, accelerating job creation for citizens and promoting economic diversification. “I am proud to say that my ministry led the way and set the pace.”

However, he expressed concern about the pace at which LAPCAS project was going given that the time set for completion of the project was fast approaching.

Furthermore, Mr Maele said the public relations and communications function in the whole ministry was weak thus it was high time communication was strengthened because it was the only way to be assured of building a strong team.

Mr Maele said he was still not happy with the manner in which some employees treated customers, adding “by and large we think we are doing them a favour by serving them yet they are doing us a favour to seek services from us.”

Meanwhile, permanent secretary in the lands and housing ministry, Mr Thato Raphaka congratulated receipients for their outstanding performance.

However, Mr Raphaka reminded them that it was the nation that paid their salaries hence should carry out their duties diligently.

About 80 staff members from different departments under the lands and housing ministry received awards. ENDS