15 Dec 2022

Employees of the Department of Tribal Administration have been encouraged to upgrade themselves because government could no longer afford to send staff for long-term training.

Addressing the 27th conference of the Botswana Tribal Administration Services Association (BOTASA) in Tonota on Tuesday, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Kgotla Autlwetse explained that the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic had dealt the government a hard blow financially, making it difficult to send officers for long term training.

The Minister explained that government was aware of the importance of capacity-building for employees in the execution of the Tribal Administration mandate.

To this end, Minister Autlwetse told delegates that a total of 332 employees had so far been trained on various short courses Including induction of the newly appointed dikgosi and support staff.

“The last batch to undergo long-term training was in 2019, where a total of seven officers were trained,” he said.

He explained that active self-improvement had many benefits that included helping an employee to accomplish professional objectives.

Minister Autlwetse, therefore, encouraged the officers to prioritise self-development, which had the potential to advance their careers and improve their lives.

He also implored them to re-tool themselves in order to market themselves in the labour market.

On other issues, Minister Autlwetse stated that government was fully committed to improving the welfare and conditions of service for employees of the Department of Tribal Administration.

He acknowledged that the department had had various challenges such as inadequate and dilapidated staff accommodation, inadequate resources and lack of progression, among others, but promised that government had come up with interventions to turn the situation around.

Kgosi Bokamoso Radipitse of Tonota complained that tribal secretaries were underpaid as compared to their counterparts in other local authorities such as council and land board secretaries.

For his part, BOTASA president, Mr Gaeganwe Kedisaletse complained about  lack of progression in the department.

He explained that most of the employees had overstayed in one post and scale for a long time leading to low productivity and morale.

He described the conference as historic in many ways because it offered the association an opportunity to introspect and map a way forward.

For his part, director of Tribal Administration, Mr Patrick Tlotleng informed the delegates that a decision had been taken to create 15 new posts at D3 and D2 scales.

He said such would cater for the promotion of the current posts of tribal secretaries to the new position of tribal administrators.

Delegates also underscored lack of progression, inadequate staff accommodation, unfair transfers and lack of transport. ENDS