07 Sep 2022

Ministry of Defence and Security officers have been implored to accelerate efforts in implementing economic empowerment laws, schemes and policies for the benefit of Batswana.

The call was made by minister of Defence and Security, Mr Kagiso Mmusi when officiating at a five-day workshop for the legal unit and other disciplines in the ministry. 

Mr Mmusi reminded the officers that they were responsible for ensuring that Batswana fully benefitted from empowerment policies in place.

He encouraged them to do their best to jealously guard the public purse at all times and also strive to appoint the best companies while being uncompromising in dealing with companies that did not deliver as agreed.

“You should ensure that the element of value for money is always respected while utilising government funds,” he added.

Mr Mmusi emphasised the need to fulfil contractual obligations to avoid breaches and termination as they often came at a cost. 

He called for proper management of contracts, stressing that contracts that were not properly managed result in not only inconvenience to the public, but had far reaching financial repercussions.

Mr Mmusi said the ministry had been entrusted with a development budget in excess of P1 billion for the current financial year, so both the nation and the government were keenly watching to see how the allocated budget would be utilised.

He also noted that timely project delivery was essential, adding that a disciplined approach would simultaneously create employment and work to effect knowledge and skills transfer in line with the national aspirations.

He called for a people centred approach to infrastructure development, noting that it would contribute immensely to job creation.

“You will agree with me that employment brings dignity to an individual’s life as well as the family. 

In this regard I urge you to begin to see yourselves as being important players in making a difference in the lives of young men and women of our country,” he added.

Mr Mmusi further expressed gratitude that his ministry found it fit to ensure the participation of the private sector at the workshop, saying they were key to the development of the country.

Their involvement, he said, was important as the work on the ground and the actual construction was done by them, while the government did the procurement of contractors and sub-contractors.

He urged the private sector to pay their workers on time and advised officers from his ministry to join forces and work towards ensuring that non-payment or delayed payments did not happen in projects that they undertook or were responsible for.

In his welcome remarks, head of legal unit, Mr Sono Seisa said the unit deserved a pat on the back for deliberately re-aligning their duties to drive the creation of jobs as per the Reset Agenda.

He said how they awarded tenders and oversee the implementation of projects determined what jobs became available to fellow citizens.

Mr Seisa urged his colleagues to pay deserving claims on time as that played a crucial role in the survival or collapse of citizen contractor businesses, stressing that government should never have a hand in the collapse of Batswana’s businesses.

Brigadier Mooketsi Kethibogile thanked the minister for gracing the workshop, which he said brought together minds from disciplined forces to share ideas on how best they could work as a team to ensure the ministry’s budget contributed immensely to the country’s development.

He stressed the need to develop the middle class, to grow the economy, adding that locals should be given priority when awarding tenders. BOPA