23 Jun 2019

The Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism Mr Kitso Mokaila says excellence awards are part of the public service reward programme. 

The intention, he said, was to encourage exceptional performance, reward innovation, as well as sustained good governance practices.

He told attendees of ministerial award ceremony in Francistown on June 20 that rewarding good performers was a challenging task, which should be done in a transparent manner. 

“As a ministry, we strongly believe that continuous improvement is a vital part of performance management and the ministry thrives to recognise and reinforce desired behaviours and performance through simple acts like a pat on the back, encouraging words, letters of commendation and a simple heartfelt thank you on a daily basis,” he added. 

He explained that it was a well-known secret that employees who were appreciated, recognised and valued were most likely to continue working harder and even better.

Minister Mokaila said the award ceremony was taking place at a time when the ministry was undertaking initiatives that would benefit citizens. These, he said, included lifting of the hunting ban of 2014, community and citizen empowerment in the tourism sector, elephant management plan and a new policy on climate change. 

He said the ministry would engage key stakeholders to ensure that implementation was done with a necessary decorum and in the best interest of Batswana. 

Minister Mokaila further advised employees to exercise the spirit of botho (humanity) and wished them another successful year to come. 

For his part, permanent secretary in the ministry, Mr Thatayaone Raphaka encouraged employees to deliver services accordingly in order to benefit not only the society, but also the economy. 

“Unleash your potential regardless of which level you are,”  said Mr Raphaka, adding that employees should mobilise on how tourism could benefit Francistown.

Francistown deputy mayor, Mr Godisang Radisigo, thanked the ministry for choosing the city as this year’s venue for the award ceremony saying it was a get way to the Okavango Delta. 

The ceremony saw 105 awardees being conferred in the categories of the best performer, best change agent, most customer-centric, best-performing teams as well as the minister’s special award. 

The minister’s best special award was awarded to three employees being Cereal Taulo who is the deputy director (research) in the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP), Mr Modidsa Masase, a labourer at Hukuntsi wildlife office and Abel Mafuta of Maun wildlife office. 

The best performing team under maintenance project went to the Department of National Museum and Monuments (DNMM) while the best performing team under the wellness was scooped by Jwaneng Meteriological Services. 

Chobe National Parks client rescue team and Jwaneng Forestry Wellness Teams were awarded the best performing teams this year. 

The award for the best performer intern went to Thatayaone Seleka who is an intern officer at the Department of Tourism. ENDS