21 May 2017

he Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Slumber Tsogwane says the awards given to public officers illustrated that government was aware of their dedication and commitment to service delivery.

Speaking at the ministry’s excellence awards ceremony in Gaborone on Friday, Mr Tsogwane said the awards were a special recognition as the recipients were committed to their work.
In line with the ministry’s objective of placing people first, or batho pele, the minister said the public officers have dedicated all their efforts to the cause.

He said the awards were a testimony to improve efficiency and provide excellent service to the nation.

He said through the awards, government encouraged commitment and hard work, adding that the ceremony, which is held every year, showed that public officers strived to do better.

Talking in relation to his ministry, he said there was need for excellent delivery to promote rural development.

The ministry plays a pivotal role in eradicating abject poverty, and Mr Tsogwane said they needed patriotic and dedicated men and women to build a prosperous society as envisaged by government.

He said the demands of Batswana continue to be sophisticated and that they had to change with the times.

Minister Tsogwane said the MLGRD officers could be catalysts in improving the public sector, saying they should enhance their skills and use the little resources they have.

Furthermore, Minister Tsogwane said they role of the local authority could not be over emphasised especially with regard to economic growth.

He said the ministry has a staff compliment of about 25 000 and annualy spend P5 billion on supply chain hence their importance in economic growth.

The minister said the wealth of the country was not only measured on the abundant natural resources it has, but also the knowledge of its people.

He said through the awards, government was cultivating a culture of excellence. ENDS