18 Jun 2019

The Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing Development has been re-arranged to better focus on the key area of infrastructure development.

The reconfiguration was necessitated by the complexity of the ministry’s mandate, which included building, regulating the construction industry and ensuring that planning was done properly as well as maintenance of public facilities.

The ministry’s permanent secretary, Mr Dikagiso Mokotedi, said in interview that government had approved the restructuring plan and consultation with the union and employees had also been undertaken.

The restructuring, according to Mr Mokotedi, was intended to improve the ministry’s performance, noting, however, that it would require employees to be part of the journey.

When addressing the ministry staff from all over the country, who had converged in Gaborone for the annual excellence wards recently, the permanent secretary urged them to be prepared to take up challenges that might arise during the restructuring.

He further encouraged employees to be self-driven, to achieve more with less, adding that, “we are all in this transformation whether you have received an award or not. We are saying those who received awards have performed to their very best and I am extending an invitation to all employees to excel in performance so that they can be part of this event”.

When giving a key note address, the minister, Mr Vincent Seretse, said civil servants were at the forefront of service delivery, hence need for continuous motivation to deliver excellence, adding that deserving staff service should be duly recognised and rewarded.

The minister said rating agencies had rated the public service very low, which he said was a serious concern for the government.

“We need a disciplined, motivated civil service to remove this moniker off our shoulder,” Mr Seretse said.

He said registration of the Engineers Registration Board (ERB), Architect Registration Council (ARC) and the Quantity Surveyors Registration Council (QRB) was progressing well, noting that the initiative would see the construction industry gaining much needed integrity.

He said he was a full member of the Real Estate Institute of Botswana (REIB) and to which he had been paying his dues to maintain his membership to this day. “I never knew I will be the one standing up here giving a heap of praises to the ministry. We have completed projects across the length and breadth of this country; hospitals, police, housing,” Minister Seretse said.

The infrastructure and housing ministry’s team got third position at the public service awards, while the team manager,  Mr Naledi Nfana snatched the permanent secretary’s award in the ministry.

Mr Nfana said he was overwhelmed since he was not expecting anything, noting that it was good that someone else realised his efforts.

The overall performer at the Public Service awards Ms Kebaabetswe Basupi, principal technical officer, Buildings and Engineering Services, was also awarded the permanent secretary’s award.

The employee of the year award went to Ms Mmapula Letshwiti: senior personal secretary, Department of Housing Development. ENDS