12 Sep 2016

Permanent Secretary to the President, Mr Carter Morupisi has called on government employees in executive cadres to minimise asking for supplementary funding in an effort to bail- out parastatals within their ministries.

Addressing the deputy permanent secretaries and directors of departments in Gaborone on Friday (September 9), he said the amount of resources available to government do not warrant to continue condoning supplementary funding.

“You should make sure that your parastatals spend money prudently, ensure that money you grant to them is appropriately used to avoid pitfalls,” he said.

He implored them to advise parastatals on decisions of government geared on cost-saving with regards to expenditure as most of them sit within the boards.

“If you realise they intend on taking a hasty decision with regard to committing government on things not budgeted for, you can ask for a recess on the matter so that you consult your principals,” he said.

Mr Morupisis further said the debt of Botswana Power Corporation within the public institutions was growing, which call for installation of some devises for water and energy to save on the costs.

He further called for avoidance of travelling during weekends unless on emergency scenarios as it is costly because it attracts overtime.

The PSP also called on managers to reduce workshops and seminars and remain with only those critical for functioning of institutions.

He said vacant positions should not be filled without asking for permission from the Director of the Directorate of Public Service (DPSM) Management.

On other issues he called managers not to sabotage their superiors; being permanent secretaries by not giving them necessary support.

“You should give them technical guidance to ensure we run the government system properly.”

“Let us change and ensure you give maximum support to your Permanent Secretaries, guide them professionally, technically and to your best ability. Let us exercise professional integrity in the best possible manner,” he said.

He emphasised that the leading pack should be shown by leadership qualities in order for them to end up assuming positions on accounting officers.

Director of DPSM, Ms Ruth Maphorisa called on managers to support each other adding that the current inconsistencies within the public service required some policies formulation.

She said absence of policies made implementation of some of the things very difficult.

‘For example; there is no remuneration policy”, and we do not know as and when to increase salaries and these are some of the gaps we should address,” she said.

She said she has observed that when scarce- skill was introduced, confusion emanated with regards to issues of its attraction and retention.

“Within scarce skill, sometimes we talk of the job and qualification even to some courses that take only six weeks,” she said.

She further noted that an audit was being carried out on scarce skills. She also said some issues like broad banding and unitary pay structure have been overtaken by some developments.

Ms Maphorisa also called managers to attend to “people issues’’ noting that most of their grievances were centering on inconsistencies in application of rules and regulations.

She advised them to visit outstations to minimise complaints raised by employees during the President’s Kgotla meetings.

“We are a team, lets open up to people we supervise, if we expect them to excel in their work,” she said.

For their part, attendants appreciated the meeting and called for more forums with the PSPs for feedback and called for consolidated conditions of service to curb any inconsistencies caused by using both the Public Service Act and the General Orders. ENDS