24 Feb 2020

The prospects of the country attaining its target of being a high income country is dependent upon its work force doing away with poor work ethics.

A member of the Vision 2036 Council and University of Botswana academic, Professor Keitseope Nthomang said this at the South East South Sub-district Council staff performance awards ceremony on Friday.

He said in serving the public, pubic officers were guided by the National Development Plan 11 and Vision 2036, which lay out the fundamental aspirations of the country.

Prof. Nthomang cautioned that failing to adopt good work ethics undermined economic development, perpetuated social injustice and denied people their rights.

He called upon managers to ensure that they shared the same values and missions with their juniors, as in some instances, what managers expected from juniors was unrealistic because they did not share the same values and missions.

He emphasised the need for employees to have a sense of belonging towards their institutions and to know that their little efforts contributed towards developing the country.

Prof. Nthomang observed that most institutions in the country had common values of botho and integrity, yet the service rendered to the public contradicted such values.

“It is important that we commit to our service standards in order to serve people, I see that South East District is one of those concerned about service standards,’” he said.

He further pointed out that there was need for the officers to offer service with Botho, adding that moral decay was on the high in the country.

He said councils had a big role to play in developing the country as they dealt with implementing empowerment programmes, hence the need to serve with Botho.

“Botho demands that we serve customers with love,” he said.

He further commended the sub-district for having held the excellence awards, saying awards were themselves motivation to employees.

Earlier, senior assistant council secretary Mr Montshwari Gabonthone said the sub-district had, for the past three years managed to hold excellence awards.

He said the sub-council’s achievements contributed to the achievements of the district, hence the need to reward performers and celebrate the good work. ENDS