17 Jun 2026

The government’s insourcing policy is a strategic reform designed to improve public service delivery, create decent jobs for citizens and reduce long-term dependence on private contractors.

Speaking in an exclusive interview on Botswana Television, on Tuesday, the Minister for State President, Defence and Security, Mr Moeti Mohwasa said the policy was conceived after government identified persistent challenges associated with outsourcing critical services, including rising costs, poor accountability and concerns over the welfare of workers employed by private contractors.

He said the policy sought to bring selected services previously outsourced to private companies back under direct government management, thereby enabling the state to exercise greater control over service quality whilst ensuring workers received improved employment conditions.

By doing so, he said government also aimed to afford citizens an opportunity to enjoy stable and secure jobs that came with; pension benefits, career progression opportunities, financial stability and access to credit and medical aid benefits.

The decision to pursue insourcing, he said was informed by years of experience with outsourced services across government ministries and departments. While outsourcing has initially been adopted as a cost-saving measure aimed at improving efficiency, the minister said government assessments revealed that the expected benefits had not always materialised.

Mr Mohwasa said government found itself spending substantial amounts on contracts while workers delivering the services often earned low wages and had limited job security. 

In some instances, he said service disruptions and disputes between contractors and employees negatively affected the delivery of essential public services.

Therefore, he said the insourcing policy was developed as part of broader public sector reforms intended to ensure that public funds delivered maximum value while protecting workers from exploitative labour practices.

“At the heart of the policy is government’s commitment to creating sustainable employment opportunities for Batswana. Under the arrangement, workers previously employed by contractors are gradually absorbed into government structures, giving them access to improved terms and conditions of service, including better job security and employee benefits,” he said.

The insourcing policy, the minister said aligned with government’s broader socio-economic objectives of reducing unemployment, tackling income inequalities and promoting decent work.

He also noted that by becoming direct employees of government, workers gained greater stability and were better positioned to contribute meaningfully to national development. 

Additionally, he said the move also strengthened morale among employees, which in turn improved productivity and service delivery.Beyond labour concerns, Mmnister Mohwasa said government believed insourcing would enhance accountability and operational efficiency within the public sector.

“Direct management of services enables ministries and departments to monitor performance more effectively and respond quickly to challenges without relying on intermediaries,” he noted.

Government, he said, would also be in a better position to enforce standards, allocate resources efficiently and ensure that services met the expectations of citizens.

By eliminating profit margins charged by contractors and reducing recurring procurement costs associated with outsourcing arrangements, he said the policy could generate long-term savings for the state.

The minister acknowledged that implementation of the policy was a complex undertaking requiring careful planning, resource mobilisation and coordination across government institutions. However, he maintained that the long-term benefits outweighed the short-term challenges.

He further emphasised that the transition would be conducted in a structured manner to minimise disruptions to services, whilst ensuring affected workers were integrated smoothly into the public service.

Mr Mohwasa said the policy represented a significant shift in the way government delivered services and the determination to build a more responsive, efficient and citizen-centred public sector. ENDS