16 May 2019

Deputy permanent secretary in the Ministry for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration (MOPAGPA), Ms Boikhutso Botlhole has implored employees of the ministry in the Chobe District to uproot corruption.

Speaking during a Ministerial Corruption Prevention Committee (CPC) anti-corruption staff sensitisation workshop on may 15 in Kasane, Ms Botlhole said corruption in all its forms killed the economy. She urged the employees to be patriotic by fighting and reporting corruption.

Ms Botlhole noted that corruption was a challenge in all operations and daily activities, and was hopeful that through the workshop employees will have a zero tolerance for corrupt activities.

She said in the public service, areas mostly prone to corruption were procurement and transport, and urged those involved in the procurement process to allow companies to compete fairly.

Ms Botlhole said public officers should live the principles of the Public Service Charter, and that they had a duty to inform themselves on laws governing procurement.

She noted that President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi was committed to fighting corruption in all its manifestations. Therefore the public service should be exemplary and commit to transparency and accountability in line with Vision 2036.

For her part, Chobe District officer - administration, Ms Tuelo Gothaang said the workshop came at the right time at the beginning of the financial year. She said the district and MOPAGPA CPC performed well in the previous financial year despite some challenges.

She said the committee conducted a corruption risk assessment in the district housing unit and at the Independent Electoral Commission last year.

She further said the committee managed to conduct a community outreach activity at Spar Complex, and sensitised 57 staff members on anti-corruption issues and that it intended to have publicity materials depicting Chobe as a tourism area in all the indigenous languages.

Ms Gothaang however said most of the trained members of the committee had been transferred out of the district, which she said was one if the challenges.

Still at the same workshop the director of Information Services, Ms Maria Leshongwane took employees through the Ten Point Agenda, a robust commitment to improve efficiency and effectiveness in the public service.

Ms Leshongwane urged the employees to develop a positive work ethic and put more effort when rendering services to the public and portray the principle of humility when doing so.

She said as public officers they should be respectful to all customers at all times and treat complaints as useful feedback.

Ms Leshogwane urged the employees to provide a welcoming environment to customers and treat them as their masters.

Department of Broadcasting Services director, Ms Keiterele Mathapi said the ministry’s anti-corruption policy encourages all to ensure adherence to the Public Service rules and regulations and put in place corruption prevention measures.

She implored the employees to act with honesty at all times and ensure proper usage of resources and even report any misuse to the relevant authorities. Principal records manager, Mr Ompatile Mosimanewapula of Botswana National Archives and Records Services urged the employees to ensure that records were authentic, reliable and usable in providing verifiable evidence.

MOPAGPA employees were also briefed by the Directorate of Corruption, Economic Crime, Competition Authority and Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Board. ENDS