02 Apr 2017

The Ministry of Defence, Justice and Security has 367 vacant posts and has engaged 74 temporary employees to acquire experience in different departments, Parliament has been told.

The Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Mr Shaw Kgathi said the ministry headquarters has four vacant posts, Botswana Police  Service 29 civilian posts, Department of Prisons and Rehabilitation has 40 (32 uniformed and eight civilian) posts, Attorney General Chamber has 67, Administration of Justice 91 posts and Botswana Defence Force has 136 vacant posts for civilians.

He said the vacant positions cut across all the districts in the country and were categorised per station.

Furthermore, he said the challenges delaying filling vacant posts were unavailability of suitable and experienced candidates in the local market, adding that this was common in the Administration of Justice, Attorney General’s Chambers and the Directorate of Public Prosecution.

“High attrition rates as a result of resignation of officers due to attraction where remuneration and prospects for career progression are relatively higher, especially in the legal fraternity,” he said.

However, Mr Kgathi said in the case of the Department of Prisons, enrolment of recruits was ongoing.

Specially Elected Member of Parliament, Mr Mephato Reatile had wanted the minister to state the total number of vacant posts in his ministry and to provide the breakdown by departments and districts.

The minister was also requested to state the total number of temporary employees engaged to acquire experience, and challenges that caused delay in filling vacant posts.ENDS