09 Apr 2017

Parliament has been told that Botswana Fibre Network (BOFINET) is implementing a new organisational structure with a total of 101 positions, which effected in January following a realignment project.

 

Minister of Transport and Communications, Mr Kitso Mokaila said in the new structure, there were 10 vacancies that existed due to a decision to fill them in the financial year 2017/18.

 

In order to foster skills development, work experience and contribute towards capacity building, BOFINET endeavours to have 30 interns at any given time.

 

He said in December 2016, 16 out of 30 interns were absorbed by the organisation.

 

He said currently there were 18 interns and that the remaining 12 vacancies will be filled in the remaining 12 intern vacancies during the 2017/18 financial year.

 

Mr Mokaila further said the longest vacant post was legal and board secretary position, which had been vacant for two years (2015-2016). 

 

He said four offers had been declined for this position and its recruitment was ongoing.

 

Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA) had one vacant position and had two temporary employee interns.

 

With regards to BTC, Mr Mokaila said the entity was listed under the Botswana Stock Exchange on April 8 following an IPO that opened on December 2015.

 

Therefore, he said its jurisdiction lied with board of directors as per the company’s act.

 

Mr Mokaila further told Parliament that Air Botswana had 61 vacancies that were attributable to the ongoing restructuring project given that a decision was made to freeze external recruitment pending implementation of the revised Air Botswana organisational structure. 

 

He said to date the airline had nine temporary employees engaged to acquire experience. 

 

He said the longest serving was the director corporate secretariat and general counsel, followed by the general manager.

 

The minister also said Civil Aviation Botswana had 41 vacant positions and that currently recruitment was ongoing for eight firemen positions and one mechanical engineer.

 

He said for the remaining vacancies, he said recruitment had been suspended pending completion job analysis exercise. 

 

He said once concluded, recruitment would follow.

 

Mr Mokaila said Civil Aviation had 88 temporary employees, adding that staffing analysis exercise, which would address staffing requirements, was ongoing.

 

He said the positions of chief airport services officer and principal airport safety officer had been vacant since April 1, 2015. 

 

He said these were new functions introduced as a recommendation of the International Civil Aviation Organisation.

 

“The positions had to go through the manpower planning exercise, profiling, grading and manpower budget. 

 

The positions will be filled in the 2017/18 financial year,” said Mr Mokaila.

 

Specially Elected MP, Mr Mephato Reatile had requested the minister to state the number of vacant posts at BOCRA, BTC, BOFINET, Air Botswana and CAAB, the total number of temporary employees engaged by the organisations to acquire experience and the period of the longest vacant posts. ENDS