Fill up those vacancies

We learn with shock that according to the establishment register at the Directorate of Public Service Management (DPSM) a number of vacancies in government ministries and departments have not been filled. According to the minister in the Office of the President (OP), Lesego Motsumi, there are 3,507 vacancies that are yet to be filled.

The vacancies were announced at a time when thousands of graduates from universities and technical colleges are roaming the streets looking for jobs. In addition, the government through a graduate training programme that was recently started should be in a position to assess the skills needs of the various ministries and departments and match these with the trainee graduates that they have in the system. We do not know what the reason is to clock up these vacancies up to 4,000 when Batswana complain about slow service delivery and many others are out of work. We do not believe that all 4, 000 vacancies could be in the scarce skills or in areas that need extensive experience. In an era where we demand service and President Khama has even made Delivery part of his roadmap to bring development, service and better living standards for all this inertia in the civil service should be condemned because it is counter-productive. We should not only condemn it but all efforts must be made to ensure that the vacancies are expeditiously filled. In future better systems must be put in place to ensure that such lapses do not recur.

Good luck to our teams
This weekend the Confederation of African Football (CAF) tournaments are taking place and two of our teams are participating. Reigning Be Mobile Premier League champions Gaborone United (GU) head south to Port Elizabeth where they will face Orlando Pirates in an all-important game. In the first round match played in Gaborone about two weeks ago, GU held their much- fancied opponents to a zero-all draw. GU still have a chance to go through if they get a win or a draw other than a goalless draw. The Reds, as GU are known, have everything to go past Orlando Pirates. All they need is self-belief. In the last game GU showed that they can beat Pirates if they do not respect them. In CAF Winners Cup, Coca-Cola champions  Uniao Flamengo Santos face Mozambique's Costa De Sol in a return leg that will be played at the University of Botswana stadium. On paper Gabane Santos face an uphill battle as they have to turn around a two-goal deficit. This can be done. If Costa De Sol managed to score two goals in their backyard we can do even better on our home turf. Santos should go all out to attack Costa De Sol. Santos, however,need every Motswana to rally behind them to perform at top gear. This is an international game and all of us need to get off our couch to go and cheer Santos who are our ambassadors in this continental tournament. Let's all troop to UB Stadium to support Santos and show the world that we love football - and our teams.

Editor's Comment
Congratulations Anicia Gaothuse!

The contest had 10 beautiful young girls as finalists and unfortunately only one could wear the crown.The judges picked Anicia Gaothuse. To all those who feel their contestant should have won ahead of Anicia for whatever reason, hardly; the judges found Anicia to be the best among the best, so desist from disrespecting our newly crowned queen on social media or anywhere else, for that matter! Each of the 10 beautiful young women had supporters...

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