14 Oct 2018

Permanent Secretary to the President (PSP), Mr Carter Morupisi, has implored public officers to be proactive in wooing investors to the country.

Addressing Gaborone-based public officers recently, Mr Morupisi stated that taking keen interest in the luring of investors would add on to continuing efforts by government to address the ever-growing challenge of unemployment.

He said one of the ways, which public officers could adopt to woo investors to Botswana included ensuring that they provided services in a seamless manner, with respect and with no delays, adding creating a friendly business environment was critical to efforts to create jobs.

The PSP, however, underscored the need for smooth service for both potential foreign investors and local businesses.

In addition to addressing the issue of unemployment, Mr Morupisi added that another of President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s priority areas was ensuring the existence of good governance.

Mr Morupisi, who is also secretary to cabinet, said President Masisi strongly believed that it was imperative that the values of good governance and respect for the rule of law be entrenched in the society.

Thus, he implored all public officers to not only hold these values in high esteem but to also live them.

The PSP said as part of his roadmap, Mr Masisi was moreover desirous of Botswana being turned into an international conference destination which would result in the growth of the hotel industry, and transport and tourism sectors amongst others.

While this would undoubtedly benefit Botswana in more ways than one, Mr Morupisi noted however that it would be a process to get to a point where the country would be that destination of choice for the holding of major conferences, and that reaching that point would need proper and adequate coordination.

On a different matter, the PSP dismissed allegations that former president Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama was being denied the use of government air transport.

Mr Morupisi indicated that while in the past the law on retired presidents’ benefits only stated that they be provided with transport, it was amended last year to include air transport and any other mode of transport.

However, he explained that the law provided that the use of air transport or any other mode of transport other than road transport be granted or denied after an assessment by the sitting president.

Regarding the need for public officers to continue to acquire skills to enhance their lives, the PSP pointed out that that was vital particularly since the country was, along with the rest of the world, transitioning towards becoming a knowledge-based society.

Mr Morupisi implored public officers to not just look within the borders for career advancement as once equipped with skills necessary for competing for jobs globally, they would stand a better chance at efforts to seek greener pastures outside the country.

On the recent announcement that government would where possible transfer married officers to or nearer to their spouses’ duty stations, the PSP assured the gathering that the process was ongoing and that so far around 1 500 applications had been received.

He, however, explained that the transfers were not mandatory as some spouses did not, for various reasons, want to live together.

Regarding the concern on the non-transferability of former industrial class employees, Mr Morupisi said such was no longer the case.

Mr Morupisi said currently there was nothing in terms of law that could impede the transfer of former industrial class officers.

Public officers raised several issues such as those on transfers, promotions and the general conditions of service. ENDS