10 Sep 2017

The Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration Mr Eric Molale has implored public officers in the Mabutsane Sub-district to revive extension service structures and serve Batswana as a team.

Speaking during a kgotla meeting in Tsonyane yesterday, Mr Molale explained that most of the answers to the impediments officers experienced in pursuit of service delivery like the engagement of Ipelegeng workers, special constables and provision of water through the local borehole could be resolved at district level.

Mr Molale encouraged extension service committees to meet on a regular basis, work hand in hand with VDCs to resolve  service delivery bottlenecks and enable Batswana to benefit from the available government programmes, initiatives and interventions.

He said the function of public officers was to understand government policies, explain them to Batswana and to implement them on behalf of government.

Mr Molale shared that a unit in the Office of the President has been set up with a view to gauge the quality of services being provided, monitor and provide feedback from the intended beneficiaries through an instrument called village score card.

He said issues raised through the village extension platforms would be escalated to the office of the Vice President.

Mr Molale, to this end, challenged public officers to adhere to the highest standards of diligence and efficiency as a matter of pride, national duty and provide prompt and predictable service to Batswana during all normal business hours.

He argued that political power might change but the public service must stand firm, neutral and provide continuity essential for stability and public confidence.

Mr Molale advised residents to cooperate with public officers and enable them to discharge their duties the best they could. Mr Molale further advised accounting officers to decentralice authority especially to sub-districts to facilitate smooth service delivery.

The minister also encouraged residents to take advantage of the bottom-up model of development process and contribute ideas that could take the nation to the next level.

Mr Molale has further advised public officers to reach out to all Batswana and provide them with service, regardless of station in life.

On other issues, Mr Molale informed residents that electricity would be reticulated to their village in the not too distant future.

Meanwhile, Mr Molale has warned relevant officers to have assisted some five residents of Lobutse by end of October.

The residents were approved for assistance through the Poverty Eradication Programme (PEP) in 2012 but are yet to be assisted. He said such oversight undermined active government efforts to eradicate abject poverty among Batswana.

Residents requested government to tarmac the Jwaneng-Maokane road and find a lasting solution to water shortage in the village.

They unanimously complained that they have never had adequate water supply since Water Utilities Corporation took over the local borehole which was bequeathed to them by the late Kgosi Bathoen II.

Kgosi Siane Gopane in his welcome remarks earlier on, nonetheless, thanked government for PEP adding that many residents have benefited from it and acquired livestock to improve their lives.

Kgosi however, decried that stock theft denied the beneficiaries an opportunity to graduate from poverty and asked for police officers to be deployed to the village.

Mr Obakeng Meno complained that village developments were few and far between. Mr Molale however urged residents to appreciate developments, few as they may seem, in their area. He argued that development was a process not an event.

He said Batswana should also appreciate the fact that after independence, with a shoe string budget, government embarked on an arduous infrastructure development agenda to get where the country is today.

He said the focus has now shifted to improving the lives of Batswana.Mr Molale also had a meeting with public officers soon after addressing residents. Ends