13 Dec 2023

Diligent and selfless service delivery by public servants remains critical in realising government’s efforts to transform Botswana into a high income economy.

This was said by Directorate of Public Service Management (DPSM) director, Ms Gaone Macholo at a consultative meeting with public servants in Moshupa on Monday.

“Let us provide our service to our clients with outmost respect, timely and in a friendly, professional and efficient manner despite the challenges that prevail within the work environment,” Ms Macholo said.

She also called on public servants to respond promptly to all communication with clients, go an extra mile and exercise flexibility.

“Above all we should have a more focused role on corruption prevention and clearing anything that constitute corruption,” she added.

Ms Macholo also encouraged public servants to embrace mindset change, which she said would go a long way in assisting them to deliver services and further implored them to utilise the 10 point agenda, which was aimed at improving service delivery in the work place.

Again, she encouraged civil servants to share the available resources in the midst of challenges of shortage.

She further told them that as a way of motivating employees, government was in the process of implementing the fan-shaped salary structure.

“The process however is still at the awareness level, but we are hopeful that it will be implemented in April if all can go as planned,” she said.

On other issues, Ms Macholo indicated that payment of arrears for multiple titling and grading in the C-Band scale for public service employees was ongoing, adding that currently there was an outstanding payment for more than 19 673 officers and she was hopeful that all would be paid by the end of the financial year.

With regard to payments of A3 salary adjustment arrears, she indicated that funds were currently unavailable, but efforts would be made to secure funds.

On projects, Ms Macholo said from the 127 projects currently implemented under the Transitional National Development Plan, only three were on schedule.

“Major setbacks have been due to poor construction performance, poor implementation capacity, late start, contract termination and litigation,” she said.

Furthermore, she told them that government was also in the process of reviewing the Public Service Act to enhance public sector delivery.

“Government is advised by a tripartite plus board and through such a process, consultation with key stakeholders such as trade unions has been made, their inputs have been consolidated and yet to be reviewed and that final submission will be made before the end of the year, for review in Parliament. 

The review is meant to address some inconsistencies within the Acts including the Employment Act and the Trade Dispute Act. 

The draft has also been circulated to ministries,” she said.

She added that the draft was meant to address some of the gaps in the Act that had been created over time.

“Once effected, it will now be called Conditions of Service as it will encompass more detailed procedures for the public service to understand. 

It will include, amongst others, performance management, growth in career, transfer policy and remuneration. 

This is meant to harmonise the Act with other labour laws such as the Employment Act, Trade Disputes Act and Trade Unions and Employers Organisation Act,” she said.

She added that the revised Act would foster optimum use of resources as well as re-engineering of processes to improve service delivery. ENDS