11 Sep 2024

Investing in human capital is paramount if Botswana is to produce a skilled, robust and result-driven human resource that is responsive to the pre-requisites of driving growth across the various sectors of the economy.

This assertion was made by Minister for State President, Mr Kabo Morwaeng, at the inaugural Public Service Human Resource Leadership conference in Tlokweng yesterday.

Themed: The Changing HR Agenda: Championing the Future of Work Towards a Better Botswana Through Mindset Change, the conference aims to harness and elevate the role of human resources within government ministries and departments focusing on innovative and strategic HR management to propel Botswana towards its Vision 2036 goals.

Officially opening the three-day conference, Mr Morwaeng said since Botswana aspired to transform from the status of a middle income economy to high income status, the transformation should pivot on human capital development as a priority area for the attainment of a work force equal to the task of taking Botswana forward.

“Seek ways and strategies of transforming our public service into a powerhouse of innovation, creativity, influence and impactful high quality standards and excellent service delivery,” he said. By embracing digitisation and leveraging modern technology, we are not only transforming processes but also fostering a culture of continuous improvement, making the public service a model for innovation and excellence.”

Mr Morwaeng said the rise of digital technologies and the rapid increase in the rate of their usage, globalisation and shifting workforce demographics had opened up new avenues for innovation and competitiveness.

He said the development presented a unique opportunity to lead by example as they increasingly redefined how the public services operated and challenge many to be more efficient, responsive and customer-centric.

He added that by proactively embracing the changes Botswana could become a pioneer in HR transformation and a global leader in productivity output.

 “We embrace this mindset change, let us be mindful, at all times, that embracing the integration of digital HR tools and platforms is absolutely necessary to further enable us to cultivate a more innovative, inclusive, and agile Public Service. We must, therefore, ensure that technology is used not just to streamline processes but to enhance employee experiences and optimise public service delivery,” he said.

For her part Permanent Secretary to the President, Ms Emmah Peloetletse, said the conference offered an opportunity to reflect on the strategic role HR played in aligning the public service with the Reset and Reclaim Agenda and its contribution to the broader goals of Vision 2036.

Ms Peloetletse said as government aspired to be a knowledge based-economy there was need for a productive and competitive human capital as an enabler not only for the development of emerging industries but a new source of economic growth.

She said,  “Our country’s intent is to develop an international competitive workforce that is not only agile but also future ready to navigate through complex challenges. 

“As we embark on this transformative journey together, let us reflect on the profound impact our roles have on shaping Botswana’s future. Our public service workforce is the backbone of our nation’s governance and development.”

She said it was imperative that HR played a central role in ensuring that the workforce was not only skilled but also motivated and ready to meet the evolving demands of public service. ENDS