The Ministry of Local Government would like to clear a few misconceptions that have arisen from the publication and broadcast of the Botswana Local Police salary regime.

1. Civil servants, by the nature of their work are privy to information that resides in the domain of their employ. Civil servants are signatories to Government policy and procedure that emphatically states that all information on work related matters can only be relayed to third parties with the express authority of the Permanent Secretary who is the Ministry’s accounting officer.

2. The transformation of the Botswana Local Police ahead of the establishments’ merger with the Botswana Police Service entails an assessment of the internal organizational climate and employee welfare issues to align them with those of the Botswana Police Service.

3. This includes assessment of duties and functions of the current positions at the Botswana Local Police by the Lower Panel. The request for assessment was in this case submitted by the Management Services Division of the Directorate of Public Service Management and the Head of Department at Botswana Local Police.

4. While it is the duty of the Lower Panel to recommend grading levels for the assessed posts, it is important that these recommendations should not be construed as an assimilation or blanked salary adjustments for incumbent officers. Only officers who possess the requisite qualifications, skills and competencies will qualify for the proposed salary adjustments. 

5. The Ministry of Local Government is committed to facilitating the smooth transition of the Botswana Local Police to the Botswana Police Service through the alignment of its organizational structure, internal climate and appropriate deployment and remuneration of its human resource.

Recent media coverage carried bold, screaming and sensationalized headlines of, ‘undue cuts to Local Authorities budgets,’ by the Ministry of Local Government. The Ministry would like to rubbish these mischievous, baseless political mileage seeking gimmicks and pronounce the following:

1. It is disingenuous for Local Authority Finance Committee Chairpersons to announce in their Development Budget Speeches, as reported in the media, that the Ministry of Local Government had ‘cut’ their budgets when they know fully well that this is not true.

2. Contrary to what the media attributes to the Local Authority Finance Committee Chairpersons, the Revenue Support Grant for 2009/10 to Local Authorities from Central Government has increased by an average 30% of the 2008/09 budget. This notwithstanding the impact of the global financial crisis and economic downturn.

3. The total approved Revenue Support Grant budget for 2008/9 stood at BW P 2,471,230,972 while the total approved Revenue Support Grant budget for 2009/10 stands at BW P3,229,791,360 which represents a 31.60% increase of the 2008/9 to 2009/10 budget.

4. Hon. Minster Dr. Magaret Nasha stated in her Committee of Supply Speech to Parliament on Tuesday 24th February that, ‘Local Authorities get the largest share of the Ministry’s recurrent budget for the financial year 2009/10 as Revenue Support Grant with the remainder being shared by the Ministry’s eight departments. 

5. The Minister went on to state that, ‘all councils’ recurrent allocations have seen an increase of between 22% and 40% when compared with the 2008/9 allocations’.

6. What the Councilors omitted to announce in their Recurrent Budget Speeches was that their individual Council shopping lists or requirements far outstripped Governments approved budget ceilings and that under such circumstances Local Authorities were compelled to forgo some of their planned purchases and activities.   

7. Governments Revenue Support Grant represents almost 90% of the total estimated Local Authority income while the Councils own source of revenue represents only 10%. This is a skewed and unhealthy ratio which concerns Government and prompted calls to encourage Local Authorities to explore creative and innovative income generating streams to support themselves.

8. The difficult and trying circumstances of the current global economic downturn present a challenge for Local Authorities to be frugal in their fiduciary responsibility with public funds. The situation calls for strong, transparent and forthright leadership which places greater emphasis on financial prudence.

9. The Ministry of Local Government is alive to the fact that 2009 is an election year and that some in the Political Leadership may not be able to resist the temptation to sacrifice truth at the alter of political expediency when faced with fierce electoral competition. The Ministry of Local Government will however not countenance such political maneuvers.         

Posted by:

Tigele Mokobi
Public Relations Unit
Ministry of Local Government

Tel: (+267) 3658529
Fax: (+267) 3972023

Email: tumokobi@gov.bw

Proposed By-Elections to Fill Vacancies

The Ministry of Local Government would like to inform the public that following consultations with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), senior members of registered political parties and Kgotla meetings with residents of the affected Polling Districts, it has reached a consensus that it will not be prudent to hold by-elections to fill vacancies between now and the dissolution of Parliament ahead of the 2009 General Elections.

The Ministry advances the following reasons for the decision;

1. Preparations for the 2009 General Elections are advanced and should not be disrupted;

2. Holding the by-elections might cause confusion, voter fatigue and apathy during the impending 2009 General Elections;

3. It will not be economically prudent to hold elections to fill vacancies that will be rendered obsolete a month later before the 2009 General Elections;

4. Some of the new Councilors might not even sit in a single meeting as very little time remains before the 2009 General Elections;

5. The Independent Electoral Commission’s capacity will be overstretched.

Thank you

Posted by:
Tigele Mokobi
Public Relations Unit
Ministry of Local Government
Tel: (+267) 3658529
Fax: (+267) 3972023
Email: tumokobi@gov.bw

The Ministry of Local Government notes with concern the letter to the Botswana Gazette
Editor (Wednesday 10th September 2008). The Ministry would like to state its reluctance 
to respond to internal organizational climate and employee welfare issues through the
press but feels duty bound and obliged to clear a number of issues raised by the authors
of the letter.

The Ministry is of the view that staff welfare, conditions of service and advancement are critical for staff morale and productivity within the entire Ministry not least at the Department of Social Services. These factors are continuously appraised to align them with the ever changing demands of the work place. Inevitably, transformation of the work environment will be met with fear and resistance in certain quarters, but the Ministry remains committed to organizational transformation that will elevate the profile of the Ministry and enhance delivery of efficient and effective service to both our internal and external clients. This is pursued in an open, transparent and consultative manner.

It is regrettable that while the Ministry has engaged stakeholders in efforts to resolve the issues raised, the authors chose to raise their grievances through the media and bypass established internal channels and processes that are open to them to address their concerns. The Ministry regrets this turn of events but reiterates its commitment to improving its internal climate and employee satisfaction.

The Ministry will continue to work tirelessly within the framework of government policy and procedure to deal with staff welfare matters without any fear or favour, for indeed our employees are an important resource through which our performance can be gauged. We shall therefore endeavour to recognize and reward excellent performance through appropriate incentives and will do everything within our power to retain the vital skills and institutional memory of our valued staff.

Tigele Mokobi
Ministry of Local Government