07 Dec 2016

Government remains steadfast in its commitment to improve conditions of the Department of Tribal Administration in the country, notwithstanding the current economic challenges.

Vice President Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi said this at the official opening of Botswana Tribal Administration Service Association (BOTASA) annual general conference on Tuesday (December 6) in Artesia.

Mr Masisi said the department faces challenges among them shortage of offices, staff houses, inadequate budget and transport and delays in concluding the Scheme of Service (Competency Based Career Path).

He said in response to some of these challenges, the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has for the past two years taken a deliberate decision to prioritise tribal administration budget allocation.

Vice President Masisi said they have managed to replace 84 vehicles out of the 114 in 2015 and this year, 26 vehicles are due for replacement.

The ministry has connected 30 courts with Internet in 2015 and 65 were scheduled for connection this year, he added.

“Government will continue to address these issues on an annual basis within the limits of the budget allocated to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development,” he said.

Mr Masisi said the government through the Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) had begun construction of 30 customary courts in nine districts this year and would continue with construction of additional courts during NDP 11.

Mr Masisi said the theme “Self introspection, the gate way to result oriented organisation” could not have been more appropriate because Bogosi provides an important interface between merafe and government.

He said, “the success of our country is to a large extent attributable to bogosi, which laid a solid foundation for nation building and community mobilisation for development prior to independence.”

Mr Masisi said government priorities as articulated in NDP 11 are taking Batswana out of poverty, fighting corruption, job creation, increasing resources for education and eliminating mother to child transmission.

Mr Masisi said the success in the implementation of these priorities and other initiatives such as ESP were dependent on collective resolve to improve productivity, efficiency and cost effectiveness.

“BOTASA cannot afford to be a spectator in these issues because you are part of the government delivery system,” he said.

Furthermore, the vice president said government employees continued to be critical in the delivery of services and should strive for improved performance, good customer service and professional conduct.

For his part, the outgoing president of BOTASA, Kgosi Galeakanye Modise said BOTASA faces several challenges in their districts and asked the Vice President to intervene on their behalf.

He said among the challenges they faced were inadequate office accommodation and staff housing, low remuneration, untrained personnel and limited career progression.

Kgosi Modise said their Career Based Competency Path (CBCP) had reached a cul de-sac at D4 scale and asked that that this should be balanced across the department so that there would be progression.

He further said the Tribal Administration does not have retaining strategy hence skilled personnel ended up leaving for greener pastures.

In his welcome remarks, Kgosi George Thwane of Artesia said they faced challenges in their mandate to carry out service delivery to Batswana, citing shortage of resources and untrained personnel.

Giving a vote of thanks, BOTASA vice president Kgosi Rapula Somolokae said BOTASA does not believe in fighting with the employer and creating a stand-off but rather they are disciplined and well behaved.

Kgosi Somolokae said they had a meeting with the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Molefi Keaja and the meeting bore fruits and the response was positive. ENDS