13 Nov 2016

Permanent Secretary to the President (PSP) has commended the Southern District teams for the spirit of selflessness they embodied during the recently held Public Service Day (PSD) competitions.
Mr Carter Morupisi said in Kanye during the Southern District PSD recognition celebration on Friday that he was particularly delighted that participants upon realising that government was faced with budget constraints, went all out to compete until they reached the national levels without any expectation of pay which he described as a personal pledge by each one of them to serve the nation more in the face of limited resources.
However, Mr Morupisi who is also head of the public service challenged the teams and each member who participated that if the same level of commitment, sacrifice, team spirit, vigour, and desire to win, they showcased during the competitions could be transferred to the work place, Batswana would enjoy world class service from government institutions.
“I believe you all know that as public officers, we have an obligation to provide quality service to the nation at all times, I implore you to work harder and always have the citizen-the customer at the back of your mind in everything you do,”he said.
 Mr Morupisi further encouraged managers to afford junior officers who have exhibited natural leadership skills during the competitions, a platform to contribute ideas to improve productivity at the work place.
“Unlike in the work place, a cleaner can coach their manager on the field in sports or arts and this gives them a platform to display their natural leadership skills, something that when transferred back in office, can make that cleaner more comfortable to freely contribute brilliant ideas as to how best service delivery can be enhanced,” he advised.
He has thus urged other officers in the district to engage in social activities that could have a positive impact on productivity at workplace. He said PSD activities connected all participants and participating teams would inevitably carry the team spirit back with them to work. The end result, he was optimistic would be improved communication and efficiency at work.
Mr Morupisi also implored each officer in their area of responsibility to save government unnecessary expenses by taking decisions that would enhance rather than compromising the quality of Batswana’s lives.
“Whether you are a driver, cleaner, intern or manager, you have to take decisions that would not be costly to government. If we do so, we will not only realise growth in our workplace, but we will also realise monetary savings that can then be diverted towards other critical areas of our economy,”he advised.
Meanwhile, district commissioner for Southern District, Mr Mmoloki Raletobane has advised government to sustain the PSD competitions, adding the initiative made officers feel appreciated by the employer. He argued that sometimes employees cared not so much about monetary rewards for the services they provide, but just to be supported and recognised.
“When they started, they were groups, but now they have merged into teams which can be harnessed to produce results at workplace. It’s these kind of initiatives that give them a good feeling about themselves and make them proud to be serving the nation. I’m aware of the financial challenges we have as a nation, but I implore you Sir, to ensure this Day is observed in the national calendar of events,”he said.
In his welcome remarks earlier, regional education director for Southern District, Mr Acronews Maseko shared that officers in the district were determined to do more with less. He said the district has registered some improvement in terms of service delivery, but added there was still room for more to be done.
The Southern District Council chairperson, Mr Alec Seametso also emphasised the need to sustain PSD competitions and keep officers motivated. He said the initiative has reignited the spirit of self-help which Batswana are best known for. He said he witnessed officers willing to sleep in classrooms during the competitions which he described as a show of dedication. He said if the competitions were continued, participants would inevitably extend the spirit to the service.
The district team took first position in traditional dance, free style traditional choirs and athletics categories and second position in football at the national finals, while Poloko Bolt Mhaladi further scooped the best athlete award. ENDS