24 Sep 2017

Assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Thato Kwerepe has advised public officers to treat every customer with dignity and respect at all times.

Addressing public officers in Mmathethe recently, Mr Kwerepe said doing so could earn the public service the respect and confidence it deserved from members of the public.

He further encouraged officers to provide service with an agreeable spirit of humble service and treat every customer as king.

Instead of arguing with a customer who might complain of  an inefficient service, Mr Kwerepe advised officers to regard complaints as useful feedback not attack.  

Also, he encouraged officers to provide a welcoming environment to customers at all times.

Mr Kwerepe also Member of Parliament for Ngami constituency, further urged officers to maintain high standards of professionalism at all times and be seen to be representing government of the day.

He impressed on officers that whatever they do even outside business hours could affect the good name of the employer.

Mr Kwerepe also warned officers to steer clear of corruption in all its manifestations adding government had a zero tolerance for the vice.

Mr Kwerepe further advised senior officers to treat juniors with respect, empathy and empower them to be the best they could be in their career paths.

“When a junior officer has a problem, give them support and don’t breathe a word of whatever they confide in you to anyone,”he warned.

Mr Kwerepe also advised accounting officers to sanction transfers where officers had agreed to swap.

He said a transfer was negotiable and should not in any way be used to disadvantage any officer.

Nonetheless, Mr Kwerepe advised officers to develop a positive outlook towards life and take advantage of opportunities wherever they were deployed to serve.

He explained that every transfer if viewed with a positive mindset, could present an opportunity for a new life,  and opportunities.

Mr Kwerepe said he was saddened by officers who often times like the Biblical man of God Job, said they came with nothing and would evidently leave the public service with nothing.

He blamed their situation primarily on their outlook towards life.

He explained that usually if someone had a negative outlook towards an area they lived and worked in, they tended to become blind to everything about the place.

On other issues Mr Kwerepe implored public officers to treat people living with disabilities with empathy and encouraged the youth to learn sign language. ENDS