20 Feb 2020

Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Dr Thapelo Matsheka says the position of commissioner general has been vacant since December 2018.

The minister said the position had been advertised twice, first in September 2018 and again in December 2019.

He said during both periods of advertisement the recruitment exercise did not yield candidates responsive to the criteria outlined.

“As a result, the position is due for advertisement for the third time, but on a wider scale during this month,” he said.

On another issue, the minister said the most recent strategic plan was concluded in March 2019 having run for a period of five years from 2014-2019, and that at the end of the strategic plan, the acting commissioner general was responsible for execution of same for a period of less than six months.

“Therefore, the performance of the 2014-2019 strategic plan is not attributable to the acting commissioner general.

With regards to operational performance, BURS expects to meet the revenue target set for the 2019/2020 financial year as oversight measures in place ensure efficiency gains are continuously reviewed and achieved,” the minister said.

Dr Matsheka further said the tax collection target for the year ending March 2018 was P40.714 billion, and that the actual collection for the year in question was P41.204 billion.

The actual tax collection of P40.714 billion for the financial year 2017/18 exceeded that for 2015/16 which was P35.335 billion by P5.379 billion or 15.2 per cent. Furthermore, the 2017/18 tax collection also exceeded that for 2016/17 which was P35.808 billion or 13.7 per cent.

He said the movement of tenancy from plot 53976 to the CBD did not occasion an immediate termination of tenancy for the following reasons: The relocation was made in stages during the latter half of 2019 as the building was still under construction hence the need to enable a gradual settling in for BURS operations. He said BURS was currently working with the landlord and various estate agents to identify suitable replacement tenants at plot 53976 to indemnify herself from the current tenancy contract.

Dr Matsheka noted that the monthly rental for plot 53976 was P1 542 841(VAT inclusive).

He said BURS scored 2.71 out of a possible 5 rating on the best company to work for survey undertake in 2016.

He said the survey assessed among others, employee level of satisfaction with the work environment, noting that the results pointed to low morale in the revenue service.

“Consequent to the survey results, BURS board and management have identified causal factors for the score and the primary one was found to be fatigue, particularly for staff at the border posts,” he said.

Dr Matsheka said to that end, the board and management of BURS had boosted available human resources at the border posts so that staff could alternate working on shifts, adding that BURS continued to make strides in the area as evidenced by the creation of 116 positions during the 2019/20 financial year, specifically to augment human resources at the border posts.

“BURS also continues to improve the work environment for the organisation as a whole by refurbishing existing facilities and constructing new ones on priority basis amidst limited financial resources.

He said among others, BURS has just relocated to a new head office in the Central Business District, which came with enhanced ambience and refreshed employee experience.

In addition, new housing units have been completed at Tlokweng, Ramatlabama and Mamuno to improve staff accommodation at the border posts.

“I am convinced that these changes, will no doubt, go a long way towards bolstering staff morale,” said Dr Matsheka.

He added that BURS continued to explore other ways of improving staff morale as it was necessary that BURS employees were motivated to be able to collect the much needed revenue for government.

The Member of Parliament for Molepolole North, Mr Oabile Regoeng had asked the minister to state how long the position of commissioner general at Botswana Unified Revenue Services had been vacant, and why it was taking long to fill the vacancy.

He also wanted to know the extent of the adverse impact, if any, of the absence of the substantive commissioner general has had on the strategy plan implementation and the operational performance of the revenue service. MP Regoeng also wanted to know the tax collection target for the year ending March 2018, the actual collection, and how the actual collection compared to those of the financial years 2015/16 and 2016/17.

The MP also asked if the relocation of BURS to Gaborone Central Business District (CBD) occasioned instantaneous termination of tenancy contract for property on plot 53976 and payment of rent to the landlord; and if so, how much was the monthly rent, and whether he was satisfied with the current level of both at the border posts and head office. ENDS