12 Jul 2018

Civil servants  have been asked to create a business friendly environment within the public service which would lure investors to the country.

The call was made by Permanent Secretary to the President Mr Carter Morupisi in Jwaneng yesterday.

Mr Morupisi reiterated his call for the removal of red tape in order to enhance service delivery saying procedures such as requesting certified copies of identity cards should be waived.

“Delays in service delivery hamper developments in our country because we are competing with other countries, which do not have such red tape.

Such countries will attract investors who will set up businesses which contribute to development,” he said.

He emphasised the need to transform the public sector into a competitive and excelling community calling for change of attitude towards local businesses in order to improve the economy.

Mr Morupisi advised government departments to desist from condemning local businesses but to instead help them grow.

He however warned that such businesses should not be treated with kids’ gloves if they did not follow procedure.

He appealed to land authorities to accelerate the issuing of land use change certificates because it had the potential to improve the economy of the country.

Mr Morupisi said processes should not make it almost impossible to change land use from residential to commercial as long as aspects such as safety procedures in the proposed businesses were satisfied.

He encouraged public officers to review and recommend regulations for  amendment to ensure smooth service delivery.

On corruption, he urged public officers to eliminate all loopholes that could breed the scourge.

“Let us do everything in our power to eliminate corruption within the public service.

Let there be no interference in tender processes from senior officers including ministers. Tender committees should follow proper channels in awarding tenders,” he emphasised.

On another issue, Mr Morupisi said government was looking into reducing the distance between spouses as a way of preserving family values and called on public officers to submit their requests to district commissioner’s offices.

However, he said it was not guaranteed that all requests would be successful.

Furthermore, he encouraged employees to take pride in their jobs irrespective of position adding that they should know that their work, in whatever capacity, was invaluable to the government and people of Botswana.

For his part, Jwaneng Town Clerk Dick Kalantle said government departments in the town had a reciprocal working relationship for driving service delivery.

He said this extended to the Jwaneng mine which was effectively involved in the development of the town.

However, Mr Kalantle said acute shortage of accommodation and a dilapidated sewage system were some of the major challenges facing the township.

He said accommodation shortage was worsened by the fact that every employee, including former Industrial Class employees, looked to government to help with accommodation.

The employees complained about failure to be paid for working overtime, shortage of vehicles and delayed progression among other issues. Ends