27 Jul 2016

Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN) is operating with a transitional structure.

The Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Mr Kgotla Autlwetse, said this when responding to a question in Parliament from Gaborone North MP, Mr Haskins Nkaigwa.

Mr Autlwetse said the structure was “in accordance with the BUAN Act of 2015 which makes it permissible under Section 30 sub-sections 2, 7 and 9 to have the governing council and other organisational structures of the old Botswana College of Agriculture (BCA) to operate as interim and transitional structures of the new university.”

“In this regard, it is clear that there are existing governing structures placed by law to govern the university during the transition process to ensure that the new university is not run in a vacuum,” he said. The statutes, the assistant minister said, was approved by the transitional governing council on April 28, 2016, adding that the ministry was in the process of appointing members of the university council.

“I have already received nominations of such members. Furthermore, on November 2, 2015, the transitional Governing Council engaged a consultancy to develop an organisational and remuneration structure for BUAN,” he said.

The draft organisational structure, Mr Autlwetse said had already been presented to the interim Governing Council by the Consultant on April 12 2016, adding that the consultant was now developing job profiles for the various cadres and levels within the University.“Such work commenced on June 21, 2016 and is expected to be completed on August 26, 2016,” he added.

Mr Nkaigwa wanted to know if the minister was aware that the current BUAN was operating without an organisational structure and all systems required to effectively run a university, including a pay structure.
Gaborone North MP wanted to know as to when would the structure be available. Ends