Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) employees’ community service day involved collecting litter along the rail station, bus rank and the ministry’s premises in Gaborone.  

            Launching the ministry’s community service day with employees wearing the ministry regalia this morning (December 17), Minister of Agriculture, Mr Christiaan De Graaff  said; “It is an opportunity for us to extend our social responsibility to the community we serve.”

            Mr De Graaff said it was important that they realised as a ministry that they are part of the community in which they lived and served.

            Equally, he said, it was important for the community to know the ministry’s staff, accept and relate with them.

            He also urged MoA community to respect the people that they will be interacting with during the cleaning.

            “Maybe some people may not be nice to us but we must be nice to them.”

            His audience heard that starting next year, the community service day will be extended to the districts where MoA services are mainly delivered.

            Minister De Graaff said the day will be extended to agriculture related works in order to continue improving service delivery through the community service day.

            He also believes the community service day will also improve the ministry’s image with the members of the public.

            On his part, MoA Permanent Secretary, Dr Micus Chimbombi described the day as marking an important milestone for the ministry, people and country.

            He urged the ministry’s employees to make the day a success by doing what they are supposed to do.

            “Let us go out and make the day worth it.” 

             Both Minister De Graaff and Assistant Minister Mr Oreeditse Molebatsi, senior officials of the ministry joined in the clean up of the areas.