05 Dec 2018

- Permanent Secretary to the President Mr Carter Morupisi has urged public officers to familiarise themselves with the laws guiding benefits of former presidents.

Addressing public officers based in Leltlhakeng on December 4, the PSP said the President’s Pension and Retirement Benefits Act, which was amended last year, gave former presidents access to use any government mode of transport on a case by case basis as maybe determined by the President.

Mr Morupisi explained that this meant a request had to be made, adding that the current president might turn it down.

The PSP said the law also covers the former president, Mr Festus Mogae.

Meanwhile, public officers have been urged to deliver good service to the public and to ensure they abide by their respective ethics as determined by their professions.

He further appealed to Corporate Services personnel to ensure all public officers were paid their dues such as overtime allowances on time.

Mr Morupisi further warned public officers against participating in political party primary elections, saying they were allowed only to be card carrying members and elect their prefered MPs and councilors during the general elections.

He said laws and policies regulating public service were to be reviewed in order to enhance service delivery, and added that the law should not be used to block people from accessing services.

The PSP also called for decentralization of power to enable effective delivery of service, saying it was cumbersome for an Assistant Council Secretary stationed in Letlhakeng to constantly call Council Secretary in Molepolole while he or she could make independent decisions.

He said the president through his international trips was working tirelessly to lure foreign investors into the country and this required input and support from public officers.

Investors should find all amenities and developed infrastructure in place, to make it easier for them to set up their businesses in the country.

Mr Morupisi further said the president would soon appoint members of the National Strategy Team to come up with the National Transformation Strategy and public officers should be ready to be part of the strategy.

Botswana has already made strides in being the international conference destination looking at the number of conferences held in Gaborone and the PSP said this had ripple effects on the economy as tourism sector develops and enables economic diversification. 

He further urged public officers to assist in developing and growing their domestic economy.

For their part, civil servants welcomed the government decision of ensuring married spouses do not live far from each other, although Ms Portia Masire said she was concerned that few people had shown interest in living with their spouses.

She also wanted clarification over Motokwe as some people receive the Remote Area Allowance while others receive the Remotest Area Allowance.

Ms Masire, who is a social worker, asked for additional staff and said they should also be considered to receive scarce skills allowance.

Ms Rachel William complained about lack of staff accommodation. Another speaker said A scale should also be multiple graded to enable progress like officers in upper scales.

Ms Naledi Kaisara told the PSP that she had been a temporary Setswana and Religious Education teacher for 10 years. ENDS