11 Oct 2016

Public officers in Tonota constituency say they continue to face many challenges in their efforts to bring services to the people.

Speaking at a meeting held by the Member of Parliament for Tonota constituency who is also the Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development Mr Thapelo Olopeng, the officers said they continue to face challenges of shortage of accommodation as other workers commute from Francistown and beyond.

One of the officers, Ms Luda Khiwa from Sekoko Primary School said they continue to face shortage of classes in their school as some of the classes were taught outside.

She also said there were delays in promotions as some officers could go up to 15 years without being promoted and without any salary adjustment due to being on the top notch, further saying there were problems where officers were overstaying in one station.

Officers from ministries of Basic Education and that of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology asked for maintenance of schools and their houses, saying the buildings were collapsing and inhabitable.

They noted that there were also delays in replacing staff after transfers and retirements, which they said affected students performance.

Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security officers complained that there were no access roads for farmers to reach their lands.

They complained of non-accountability for the Integrated Support Programme for Arable Agriculture Development as farmers only ploughed and took the money without waiting for the crops to grow.

Furthermore, they recommended the youth who have been granted government schemes to start farming, to be attached to big farms so they benchmark to avoid failure and collapsing of their infant businesses.

In his response, Mr Olopeng urged officers to cooperate and share government vehicles as they worked for the same government to avoid shortage of vehicles.

Mr Olopeng further urged them to practice zero tolerance for corruption in the workplace, pleading with them to help customers without hatred and vengeance.  ENDS