31 Jul 2024

The Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs is not able to establish district labour offices in Shakawe and Tonota due to budgetary constraints.

This was said by Labour and Home Affairs minister, Ms Annah Mokgethi in response to a parliamentary question on Tuesday.

However, Ms Mokgethi said the ministry was aware of the challenges experienced by residents of Shakawe in accessing immigration and labour related services.

“With the little budget allocated to my ministry this financial year, we will only be able to establish district labour offices in three out of six villages covered under the approved budget. The three villages include Gumare, Tutume and Goodhope,” she said.

She told Parliament that following the pronouncement on the rationalisation of ministries portfolio responsibilities in 2022, a new structure for the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs had since been approved.

“My Ministry is currently validating the Job Effectiveness Descriptions (JEDs) to facilitate operationalisation of the new structure during the Financial Year 2025/26. The manpower planning for Shakawe immigration office has been catered for in the new structure and the office will be operational during the financial year 2025/26,” she added.

As a short-term measure to alleviate the problem, she said the ministry had decentralised passport services to Mohembo Border while other immigration related services, including residence permits, may be accessed at Gumare district immigration office.

She said the ministry was also on the process to provide online work and residence permit services, online passport so that they may be accessed online.

She assured Parliament that the delay in opening immigration and labour offices in Shakawe should not in any way be misconstrued to mean that the ministry undermined the village’s strategic location and the inconvenience that the local people had to endure to secure services in Maun.

“It is our wish as we have already submitted budget requests for the next financial year to cater for establishment of district immigration and labour offices in other villages, Shakawe included,” the minister said.

She said in recognition of the vastness of the district, the ministry would continue to serve the community by conducting outreach visits according to a schedule that would be communicated to the village leadership.

Okavango MP, Mr Kenny Kapinga had wanted to know, among others, when the local immigration and labour offices would be opened in Shakawe.

Meanwhile, Parliament also heard that there were no plans to establish immigration or labour offices in Tonota, also due to budgetary constraints.

However, Ms Mokgethi said the Department of Labour and Social Security through the district labour office in Francistown, visited Tonota every Tuesday to provide services to the public.

“This arrangement has proved to be effective as customers no longer travel to Francistown to seek assistance. I am hopeful that this intervention will continue to improve service delivery in the area until budgetary situation allows for setting up of such offices in Tonota in the not so distant future,” she said.

Tonota MP, Mr Pono Moatlhodi had also wanted to know when the ministry would establish immigration and labour offices in Tonota. Ends