21 Mar 2017

Parliament has been informed that Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) has 253 vacant posts while at Minerals Development Company Botswana there are 17 vacant posts.

This was said by the Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Eric Molale in Parliament on March 20, on behalf of the Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security.

Answering a question from Specially Elected MP, Mr Mephato Reatile, Minister Molale said there were currently five vacant posts at Botswana OIL Company (BOL) and 183 at Botswana Geo Science Institute (BGI) for its new structure.

“Only one post for chief executive officer has been filled at the Institute. 16 posts have been advertised and interviews are ongoing,” he added.

Minister Molale further told the House that the total numbers of temporary employees engaged by these organisations to gain experience included BPC has 54, MDCB three, BOL two while BGI has no temporary employees.

In addition, Mr Molale said the longest vacant post by organisation is; BPC 83 months, MDCB 38 months, BOL six months and BGI three months.

Reflecting on challenges faced by these organisations that caused delay in filling the vacant posts, Mr Molale explained that at BPC some vacant posts are not filled because they are being forfeited on the basis that they were non-existent in the new structure due to optimisation of resources; management decision to outsource some functions, making those posts redundant.

Other reasons included the decision by management to hold out on some recruitments due to the impending restructuring exercise.

With regard to MDCB, he said some vacancies were only to be recruited for after the directors for those functions were appointed; candidates turned down job offers due to non-competitive remuneration packages, and uncertainty surrounding the company.

The company also wanted to have some of the positions analysed and evaluated.

"The MDCB strategic plan will be reviewed once the company strategy and operational structure has been agreed to by the MDCB board and approved by the shareholder," he added.

On BOL, he said very minimal delays have been experienced, the recruitments are staggered intentionally to respond to business needs and affordability while at BGI the recruitment process is ongoing and the institute is awaiting the approval of the remuneration structure by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development.

MP Reatile had asked the minister to state the vacant posts at BPC, MDCB, BOL and BGI and also the total number of temporary employees engaged by the companies to acquire experience.

He further wanted the minister to state the period of the longest vacant post and the challenges that cause delay in filling in these vacant posts.  ENDS