09 Sep 2018

The Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism, Mr Tshekedi Khama, had urged public servants to be effective and diligent in their service delivery.

Mr Khama who was speaking during the graduation ceremony of 64 officers who successfully completed a course on Problem Animal Control (PAC) at the Botswana Wildlife Training Institute (BWTI) in Maun last week noted that one of the challenges this country was faced with was the efficiency of the public service.

“We have to change the attitude of public servants,” he said reminding public officers that government also operated like a business therefore negative attitude towards work could not be afforded.

Mr Khama reminded the officers that they were privileged to serve the public not the other way round.

He criticised those officers with the impression that there were cut out to work only in Gaborone as opposed to rural areas. “Let us not forget where we came from,” said the Minister adding that officers should go out and assist customers wherever they were. He also criticised officers who chose the comfort of their offices over providing services in the fields.

Mr Khama nonetheless applauded BWTI for producing officers of high calibre who demonstrated discipline and commitment to their duties.

To the graduates, he encouraged them to avoid resting on their laurels after graduating as they were trained to assist those who have been affected by wild animals. “We have to quell human-wildlife conflict,” he said.

 As for the trending issues of elephants, the minister said Botswana had a high number of elephants population because the country took care of its wildlife. “We have to preserve them for our future generation,” said Mr Khama. He said it was his wish that more Batswana could get into the tourism business.

For his part, BWTI principal, Mr Moemi Batshabang, said the graduation was first of its kind as the course was a hybrid of Induction and Basic training (IBT) and PAC that the institute usually offered as a standalone programme.

He said the training was geared towards equipping the newly recruited wildlife officers with basic knowledge, skills and ethics of wildlife management conservation. “The course was further meant to induct them on public service and operations of the department,” said Mr Batshabang.

He also noted that trainees had an opportunity to do practicals where they were exposed to mechanical and chemical capture and they participated in the live darting of an elephant.

“The trainees were also put through customer care programme to equip them with knowledge and skill to deliver quality service to clients,” said Mr Batshabang.

He was confident that the knowledge and skills imparted on trainees were adequate for them to fully function as PAC officers. ENDS