13 Jun 2016

President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama has commended the public service for its invaluable contribution to the country’s development.

Officiating at the Public Service Day (PSD) commemoration in Gaborone yesterday, President Khama acknowledged the critical role and virtue of all former public service employees who laid a solid foundation. 

The visionary leadership, selfless commitment and dedication of the country’s forbearers, he said, had laid the foundation and set the tone for making Botswana what it was today.

“The success story of Botswana’s development from one of the least developed countries to a middle income country is owed to the sacrifice, commitment, loyalty and output of all its people,” he said.

Before independence, President Khama said, public service officers worked where there was no electricity, tarred roads, cell phones, radio, television and proper running water. 

During those times, he said officers only used bicycles as transport and there was also no air conditioners and many other facilities and equipment. Despite all these shortages, the public officers continued to serve diligently.  

The principles of Public Service Charter, which are: Neutrality, Accountability, Continuity, Duty to be informed, Regard for public interest, Due diligence, Transparency and Freedom from corruption, President Khama said had also helped to set a strong foundation for the values entrenched in the Botswana Public Service.

“In celebrating our public service we also celebrate innovations to deliver on the pledge we have made to the people of this country for excellent and efficient service delivery. Any regression will undermine these gains; hence the need for a committed public service that will continue to uphold the values that have built this country,” said President Khama.

Recognition of performance, President Khama said was a key factor for employee motivation and growth. Recognising both individual and collective effort of employees, he said would pave way and shape a future public service that sets an example for all Batswana wherever they worked of a mindset and work ethic that should be efficient and productive.

He said he had travelled the length and breadth of the country and met public officers from across all levels. These meetings assisted him to appreciate the contribution of the public service in the improvement of the quality of lives of Batswana and the challenges they had to contend with. Through such meetings, he said he had, together with the public service, managed come up with suggestions to some of the challenges.

Although he appreciated and supported the role and virtue, of public service employees, President Khama said he was equally concerned by issues, in some cases, of declining performance and productivity as reflected by those that rated government and its customers.

Government employees continued to be critical in the delivery of services and should continue to strive for improved performance, customer service and demonstration of; befitting ethos, professional behaviour and conduct. 

Furthermore, he said Batswana had continually asked for a sustainable and growing economy to provide them with jobs, better health care and education, which he said was also the promise he made to Batswana when he took office in 2008. 

Consequently, he said the economic downturn also coincided with the pledges he had made to Batswana of a prosperous economy. All these challenges, President Khama said country were numerous and had a devastating impact on the country’s economy.

However, in spite of these challenges, he said government took a bold decision to ensure that  public service employees would not lose their jobs because of the economic downturn. 

“I am glad to say that even though it was not easy, we managed.  Unfortunately the poor economic situation then continues to this day, a time when the challenges facing this country have worsened with regard for example, the mining sector and national water needs and the drought,” he said.

“As we look with optimism to the next 50 years of peace and prosperity, I want to encourage all of us to learn from the journey we have travelled. I am of the firm opinion that ours is a bright future as we work together,” he addede.

President Khama congratulated those who had demonstrated excellent performance and would be recognised during the excellence performance awards and urged those who did not make the mark to work hard to improve. 

He said he was motivated to serve, not because it was just a duty for which he got paid, ‘but for the love of my God, my country and its people.’

 “I spend hours of so-called free time to interact with Batswana so that I can better understand their challenges in order to serve them better, without claiming overtime and offs.  Salary and allowances and other entitlements should not be the motivation to serve the nation,” he said.  

As much as salaries and allowances are essential for sustenance, he encouraged public service employees not to be conditional on receiving them.  

“Let us all walk that extra mile to help others and by so doing make this country of ours prosperous for generations to come,” he added.ENDS