22 Oct 2020

Principal programmes officer at the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development (MYSC) in Ghanzi, Mr Saziba Mphali, says the ministry’s office in New Xade is underutilised.

In his briefing during Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development, Mr Tumiso Rakgare’s visit on October Tuesday, he said settlements  under New Xade area  preferred to access service in Ghanzi.

“Because of their proximity to Ghanzi, residents of those settlements prefer to get services in Ghanzi,” he stated.

Owing to this, he said the department incurred a lot of subsistence allowance costs because they were compelled to pull an officer from New Xade to Ghanzi.

He recommended that the New Xade office should be made a satellite office and the officer servicing it be based in Ghanzi.

Regarding shortage of accommodation, Mr Mphali stated 12 of 46 of their staff in the entire Ghanzi District had been allocated houses and therefore pleaded with the minister to consider procuring Botswana Housing Corporation houses for staff.

Another official from Ghanzi office, Ms Kelatlhegile Mbotho said they were challenged by shortage of fuel in the district, particularly in Ghanzi township.

She therefore made a request for office to be allocated a vote for fuel, so as to mitigate the challenge.

Mr Rakgare implored staff to improve on provision of quality service, adding that turnaround time was a major component in service delivery.

He stated that, “we are not going to negotiate; we should have standards of performance.”

Minister Rakgare said late coming and knocking off before official time was a concern.

Deputy permanent secretary in the ministry, Mr Kgopotso Ramoroka encouraged staff to make work place environment conducive and relationships at work healthy.

Responding to concern about shortage of fuel in the region, permanent sectary in the ministry, Mr Kago Ramokate, said they would look into the issue.

He conceded that COVID-19 had affected service delivery and resulted in halting some activitites, thus some funds remained unspent. ENDS