30 Nov 2021

Ministry of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs northern region staff have been urged to support President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi’s Reset Agenda.

Addressing the staff in Francistown yesterday, the ministry’s permanent secretary, Dr Themba Mmusi said they should be seen to be resetting priorities, adopting new approaches as well as doing things differently.

“The Reset Agenda is all about mindset change, doing things differently in order to move the country forward from a middle income to a higher income,” he said.

On other issues, Dr Mmusi said the ministry should abide by all international protocols.

“It does not go well when this country does not abide well with international protocols,” he warned.

He urged the employees to put Botswana first when delivering services.

Dr Mmusi commended Francistown staff for establishing a district gender committee and urged them to make it functional.

He condemned sexual exploitation and harassment in the workplace, saying it was a serious offence punishable by law.

Regarding staff welfare, Dr Mmusi reminded his audience that promotions were based on the objectives of the job.

On transfers, Dr Mmusi explained that officers got transferred because of the exigencies of service.

He assured staff that the ministry would do its level best to provide departments with enablers such as transport, office accommodation and housing.

The permanent secretary however said the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic had depleted government coffers should be borne in mind.

Presenting achievements and challenges, the gender officer, Mr Tshenolo Molapi said the Department of Immigration and Citizenship managed to issue 2 183 passports reflecting 95 per cent compliance.

It also managed to process 746 residents permits and received 293 citizenship applications out of which 105 had been processed, he said.

Mr Molapi revealed that 552 detainees were currently housed at the detention centre.

He said 1 014 irregular migrants had been repatriated whilst 25 770 travellers were assisted in and out of the country through Phillip Matante International Airport as well as Ramokgwebana and Maitengwe border gates.

Outreach services were extended to in Siviya, Matshelagabedi, Senyawe, Jackalas 2 and 1, Tsamaya, Matshelagabedi and Senyawe January and November to address immigration and citizenship issues, he said.

In addition, Mr Molapi said business inspections were conducted as usual and that clean-up campaigns were undertaken in Francistown, Ramokgwebana and Matsiloje.

On challenges, he mentioned members of society with questionable citizenship status, delays in processing citizenship applications, large number of uncollected passports and mismatching fingerprints.

Another challenge, he said, was that detention facilities were not suitable for mothers, children and the mentally ill.

Mr Molapi also reported that Tutume and Masunga offices were experiencing Internet challenges. Ends