05 May 2019

The Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security, Mr Eric Molale, has told Southern District extension officers to stay away from corruption. 

Mr Molale said this at a two-day training organised by the office of the district commissioner recently. 

He advised them to be anti-corrupt, orderly, follow the law and consult with stakeholders when executing their duties. 

He advised extension officers to be transparent, adding that failure to communicate might lead to people suspecting corrupt practices.

Mr Molale said government programmes and policies were not for sale and extension officers should be able to serve the community without regard for their political affiliation. He noted that there was need for officers to adhere to the constitution, hence the need for them to be apolitical as per the Public Service Act. 

“It is the district extension team that can curb corruption. You should never underestimate your importance and you should contribute significantly towards the country’s development,” he said. 

Mr Molale said extension officers were the core of uplifting the country. 

He therefore compelled them to begin to change their mindset and attitudes with the knowledge that they were at the forefront of Botswana’s future. 

He noted that in terms of productivity officers should be driven by patriotism and passion in disbursement of their duties.

“You must exhibit, exude passion and patriotism in ensuring effective, equitable provision of programmes and services. 

He said the extent to which extension officers mobilised projects was reflected from the response of the receivers, adding that lower mobilisation led to less uptake of programmes and services.

He also advised that there was need for the extension officer to perform proper assessment and establish criteria in which they operate within, in order to meet the budget as could never be adequate to fulfill all that may be desired. Mr Molale further advised the officers to care for the welfare of their surbodinates, as a way of ensuring that their staff is motivated. 

He noted that there are often disparities in which the supervisor treats their workers, adding that, they should change as such deeds lead to non-functionality of officer, hence less progress in bringing programmes and services to the community. 

“You should develop a score card in order to establish how many people have been assisted, the amount spent, successes and challenges, so that officers who are not doing well in their respective designated areas can be assisted in a coordinated fashin,” he said. 

For his part, in his welcome remarks, the Southern District, District Commissioner, Mr Mmoloki Raletobana said their district structures needed to be facilitated so as to enhance better service delivery in the district. 

He said they have particularly invited the Mr Molale as he has better understanding over the structure of the government at district level, and has been part of the structures while working as the District Commissioner, Permanent Secretary, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development and also Permanent Secretary to the President, which made him better that most in the public service. 

“Our priority is to realize smooth operation of our district structures so as to enhance service deliver. 

We are hopeful that we shall come out of this workshop better equipped in order to deliver quality service for Batswana,”he said. ENDS