INSIDE THE PRESIDENCY (26-7-13) – BOTSWANA HOSTS GOOD GOVERNANCE FORA Welcome once more to your weekly window into events and issues involving the Presidency. Today His Excellency the President, Lt. General Seretse Khama Ian Khama, will address kgotla meetings at Ikoga and Kajaja villages in the Okavango constituency. He began his tour of the constituency yesterday when he met with public officers at Shakawe and subsequently addressed a kgotla meeting at Xauga. Also this week, President Khama met with the visiting President of the Pan African Parliament (PAP), Mr. Bethel Nnaemeka Amadi, who briefed him on ongoing efforts to transform the body through an amended protocol, which has been forwarded to African Union (AU) member states for further consideration. If adopted the new protocol would give enhanced functions to the PAP. In this respect Mr. Amandi stated that the goal for now was not to create a continental parliament with authority over member states, but to rather an institutional framework for the passage of AU related legislation. He further observed that any laws developed by the PAP would be subject to approval by member states as well as adoption by the AU Summit of Heads of State and Government. Last Friday His Excellency joined His Honour the Vice President, Dr. Ponatshego Kedikilwe, and other members of Cabinet, along with Office of the President staff in painting Gakuto Tribal Administration Offices, as part of the Ministry of State President’s monthly community service day commitment. Members of Cabinet also donated filing cabinets and chairs to furnish the kgotla office, which was built through self-reliance efforts and the drought relief programme in 2005. On Sunday Khama undertook a walkabout in extension 16, 20 and Gaborone West on July 21, during which he acknowledged and expressed concern that people are experiencing challenges in accessing government programmes. In this respect he noted that delays in the ordering of equipment and the failure of the Gaborone City Council were among the factors undermining efficient delivery in the area. Yesterday, Vice President Kedikilwe was the Guest of Honour at the prize giving ceremony for this year’s Consumer Fair, which began on Monday and will run through Sunday. This year’s fair has attracted over 400 local and 15 foreign exhibitors, an increase from last year. Held under the theme ‘shop, discover and explore’, the Fair is expected to attract over 60,000 visitors. Tomorrow morning, His Honour will be at the Mmadinare District Show. On Monday, the Vice President was in Kasane, where he officially Opened a regional Labour Conference for Judicial officers, which was convened under the theme for this conference; “Adapting International Best Practices in the Labour Judicial System” is most appropriate. In his speech he noted that the backlog of cases before our own Industrial Court remains a serious challenge. Commonwealth Forum On Tuesday His Honour also officially opened the 10th Forum of Commonwealth Heads of African Public Service, which is being hosted this year in Gaborone by the Permanent Secretary to the President, Mr. Eric Molale. The theme of this year’s Forum is: “Improving the Political-Administrative Interface to Achieve Sustainable Development”. In his remarks, Vice President Kedikilwe expressed his appreciation of the Forum as a unique opportunity for public service leaders to join hands from across continents and cultures to share ideas, which will translate into key strategies, which will be escalated to the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting to be held later this year in Sri Lanka. He further observed that the theme was most suitable given that any focus on delivery mechanisms cannot be conclusive without looking at the implementation modalities; key among these being the political-administrative interface. In this respect he stressed that there was need to reaffirm and drive home the core values of civil service within the Commonwealth, notably including that it to be: “An apolitical entity that remains unchanged regardless of the government in power.” Dr. Kedikilwe also noted that in order to meet today’s challenges Government’s around the world, as well as here in Botswana, are seeking to make their public service institutions more efficient and fit for purpose to ensure citizen focused service delivery. Also speaking at the opening was the Deputy-Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Mrs. Mmasekgoa Masire Mwamba, who observed that managing and balancing Political and Administrative interface crucial for development countries in the region to advance their development agendas. She further observed that this week’s discussions will assist in the finalising Commonwealth Strategic Plan, whose four pillars are: Upholding the Rule of Law; Respect for Diversity and Promoting a Well-connected Commonwealth; as well as Building Effective and Robust Public Service. The Forum will be closed today by the Minister for Presidential affairs and Public Administration, the Honourable Mokgweetsi Masisi. On Monday, during a press briefing on Poverty Eradication initiatives, Minister Masisi announced that Government plans to construct a P6 million agro processing plant in the Selibe Phikwe area, which will be used to process excess horticultural produce from backyard gardening. The plant, which is expected to be completed by early next year, will process locally grown vegetables such as beetroot, tomatoes, cabbage and onions to increase their shelf life.
Posted on: Fri, 26 Jul 2013 05:12:08 +0000
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