13 Apr 2023

 Some administrative glitches which have resulted in delayed payments of the Department of Broadcasting Services freelancers in February have since been rectified.

This was said by the Assistant Minister for State President, Mr Dumezweni Mthimkhulu when answering a question in Parliament recently.

“All freelancers were paid accordingly in the past financial year. 

However, it is unfortunate that we experienced some delay in their payments in February due to some administrative glitches,” Mr Mthimkhulu said.

He said the department, through Radio Botswana and Btv, had engaged 230 freelancers in the 2022/2023 financial year who were deployed in various operations such as make-up, on-air presenters, camera, sound, lighting, gallery and producers, among others.

“It is in the interest of government to pay for any work and services provided to us, as such we will ensure seamless administrative processes,” he said.

He added that freelancers were contracted under well-defined terms of engagement in their various scope for work.

“Those engaged under News and Current Affairs division as on-air news anchors or announcers and producers are tasked through their supervisors to interview all news subjects including legislators and authorities at different levels,” he said.

He further explained that freelancers were engaged on one-year renewable contracts,  adding however that the Directorate of Public Service Management (DPSM) was currently reviewing the Public Service Employment Policy to include all forms of employment, freelancing included, to determine the most suitable terms.

“In a nutshell, efforts to re-look into the terms of employment for freelancers are underway,” he said.

Tonota Member of Parliament, Mr Pono Moatlhodi had asked the minister if he could confirm or deny that Radio Botswana and Botswana Television freelancers were normally paid late and their February salaries were paid around mid-March.

Mr Moatlhodi also asked the minister to explain the reasons for late payments and if there were any plans to rectify the anomaly.

He further wanted to know if it was true that freelancers were not allowed to interview legislators and that freelancing announcers could not be engaged for a period of between two years and five years. ENDS