05 Sep 2013

The Minister of Agriculture, Mr Christiaan De Graaff has expressed concern about the many reports indicating lack of response from employees in his ministry.

Addressing the ministry’s senior management during a retreat held in Palapye on September 4, Mr De Graaff said employees should be able to respond to requests and advise if and when they could provide the service requested.

“Even if we are not going to deliver a service, it is important that we inform those who seek our service that we are not going to be able to assist or not,” he said.

The minister also urged agriculture coordinators to work on improving services at the districts.  He said he was aware of the many challenges facing his ministry such as transport, finances and shortage of staff, but stressed that employees should do their best with the limited resources at their disposal.

Mr De Graaff stressed the importance of responding to farmers, noting that farmers expectations were increasing by the day. 

He also said it was important to start viewing parastatals under the ministry as part of the ministry so that their services complement each other.

For his part, Permanent Secretary to the President (PSP), Mr Eric Molale called for improved service delivery in the Ministry of Agriculture.  He said the public service should be rewarded according to their performance, adding that gone were the days when under performers and employees who performed outstandingly were rewarded equally.

“There is no more a public service of entitlement, you must get value for your money,” Mr Molale stressed. He said the Ministry of Agriculture must have the right people and the right jobs to execute its mandate and ensure that those who perform are rewarded accordingly.

“You must be paid for a job well done and if there is no productivity you cannot be promoted,” he said.

Mr Molale was responding to concerns raised by North East District agriculture coordinator, Mr Alfred Mashungwa who said strategies should be put in place to cater for staff welfare.

Mr Molale noted that Botswana is one of the best in the region in terms of remuneration of employees, adding “regionally we are paying well.”

He said government also expects employees to bring about good results in return. The ministry’s senior management was urged to come up with solutions to address problems that hamper delivery of service so that programmes initiated by government through the ministry serve the intended purpose.

Mr Molale said it was upon the management and employees under the ministry to make agriculture a profitable entity that can create employment for the country and fight poverty.

He said results were not created by Cabinet, rather no policy can be adopted by the ministry before being discussed by the Cabinet and Parliament. 

The retreat was aimed at re-looking at the ministry’s strategy and how to improve on service delivery. ENDS