28 May 2018

Minister of Transport and Communications, Mr Kitso Mokaila, has encouraged his ministry staff to come up with creative and innovative ways of doing their work.

“Desist from doing things the same way all the time, only because you have always done them that way. It does not help us change things rapidly enough. Please be imaginative and become risk takers,” he said.

Delivering a keynote address at the ministry’s 2017/2018 distinction and excellence awards ceremony themed: Celebrating employees, Minister Mokaila, congratulated awardees for their excellent performance.

However, he encouraged those who did not receive awards not to despair saying “those we are recognising today, it is because of where they are. They are moving faster than others, but others are also moving.”

In recognition of ministries various and distinct mandates, Mr Mokaila said President Mokgweetsi Masisi had explained that ministries should not compete with one another, but with themselves based on their set objectives or what they were supposed to deliver to the economy.

For a ministry to excel, he said it should had achieved its objectives or mandate, ‘but not because we were competing with another ministry that has a completely different mandate from ours.’

“Working for government is not an easy thing, but we do it because we want it to get easier, because when it is easier all things will be okay for us,” he said.

Minister Mokaila implored his staff to always deliver service to the public with diligence, saying “everything that we do, we do it to better the lives of Batswana, including our; children, relatives and ourselves.”

“Therefore, we must do it with jealousy, because we are doing it for us, not government. So, if you think you are cheating somebody, know that you are only cheating yourself,” he added.

In his welcome remarks, permanent secretary in the ministry, Mr Kabelo Ebineng, said the awards ceremony was meant to recognise and celebrate efforts that awardees put in their work to make a difference for people they served.

“We are here to celebrate those individuals that have demonstrated extraordinary leadership attributes, such as; compassion, selflessness, dedication, commitment and humility in the course of delivering services,” he said.

Throughout 2017/2018, Mr Ebineng said awards recipients performed their duties in an excellent and exemplary manner and it was befitting to reward them for their excellent performance.

When closing the ceremony, transport and communications’ corporate governance deputy permanent Secretary, Mr Gaolathe Dipholo, said performance awards ceremonies were held to express gratitude and recognise people who were instrumental in taking service to the customer.

“It encourages and motivates awardees and their peers to be smarter and continue improving productivity and efficiency in service delivery,” he said.

Awards were divided into the following categories; long and distinguished service, best change agent, creativity and innovation, most customer centric officer, best social team, best team, best performer in A, B, C and D scales, permanent secretary’s special award and minister’s special award.

The minister’s and permanent secretary’s special awards went to individuals and teams that had demonstrated excellent work and useful innovations that had positively contributed to service delivery in the ministry.

Minister’s special award was scooped by Mr Rebaone Kedise, who is the minister’s chauffer- walking away with P3 500, whilst Air Botswana team got a trophy.

Permanent secretary’s special award went to Ms Mojwadi Lobi, who is a Kasane Central Transport Organisation principal administration officer.

Ms Lobi got P3 000 while Francistown Department of Road transport and Safety (DRTS) innovators team got P11 000. ENDS