08 May 2016

A united public service will always bring out the best results.

Officiating during Lobatse Public Service Day, the town’s deputy mayor, Mr Francis Mokwena said positive results in the public service contributed to the country’s development agenda.

The celebrations, he said, were government’s recognition of the need to pause and reflect on the past, how the country developed and where it is now.

He stressed the importance of making checks and balances of where the public service went wrong, correct the anomaly to better things for the coming generations.

He also emphasised the importance of appreciating the best performers in the public service by way of recognising and awarding them.

All that on its own, Mr Mokwena said, would be a motivating factor for the award recipients to press on while encouraging non-recipients to work harder for recognition.

He also implored the public servants to improve their work ethics, a factor he said negatively impacted on service delivery.

He said Botswana was ranked low in work ethics by  the world rating indices,  a thing he said could be worked on to ensure improved work ethics by individuals.

Mr Mokwena hailed all veteran public officers, especially those who were not serving, adding that it was through their input that Botswana was where it was now in terms of development.

He hailed them for their visionary service and dedication that built Botswana from a low income rated economy to a middle income rated economy.

Botswana National Productivity Centre consultant, Mr Oarabile Lesole, said public service was a formation of personality as it influenced each individual one way or another.

Mr Lesole said with proper guidance from leadership, a clear mind and application of proper strategies, all could succeed in their quest to deliver better service to the clients.

He appealed to all to be open, responsive , to be team players, and to ensure their participation in other people’s lives by helping them for their success.

As a public servant, he said, it was important to understand one’s role in society and know that each contribution was essential.

Knowing that one’s contribution built a nation should keep public servants moving on adding that with inner power, will and real skills, all obstacles faced in public services will be easily won and  better results produced, he said.

He encouraged all to also appreciate deeply and sincerely the opportunities that past leaders gave, to use them for their own success, adding that the future generation of workers would wait for support as much as the current one waited for the past.

The ceremony, which was held under the theme, ‘Celebrating 50 years of Public Service, United and Proud,’ attracted public servants from all spectra, who thronged the Lobatse Town Park.

The day was also used to celebrate retired public servants who were also recognised by presenting them with certificates of appreciation.

The long-serving public officers who have been in service for close to 30 years were also recognised through certificates.

Various government departments exhibited their products and services.

Preceding the PSD were various activities such as public debates, ball sports and athletics as well as a beauty pageant.

Winners of various sporting codes were presented with certificates and will go for inter district competitions to book their places in the national competitions.

The PSD national competitions and celebrations are slated for Gaborone in June. ENDS