MoH backtracks on nurses hire plan
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Monday May 29, 2023 06:00
The ministry had recently floated an advertisement for 12 positions for Principal Nursing Officer 1, a move that prompted concern from the union.
According to the advertisement vacancy circular No: 18 of 2023, the ministry was seeking to recruit 12 officers, preferably retired nurses tenable at Princess Marina Hospital (5), Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital (5) and S’brana Hospital (2) for the positions of Principal Nursing Officer 1-D2 (Temporary).
However, BLLAHWU reacted angrily to the ministry’s decision, calling it an insult to the nursing profession.
In a letter addressed to the ministry’s Permanent Secretary by BLLAHWU’s secretary-general, Ketlhalefile Motshegwa said the decision firstly is against section 6 (2) (a) of the Public Service Regulations of 2011 which emphasises that a vacant post shall not be advertised where it is clear that the positions could be filled either by promotion or acting.
“As such we believe the advert contradicts the above section more so that it is skewed towards retired nurses whilst there are qualified nurses who can be promoted or alternatively made to act for the positions in question,” Motshegwa said.
He added: “Furthermore, your esteemed office will recall of several engagements we had to address the issue of stagnation of nurses at C1 and the issue of nursing structure, as such the advert clearly indicates that the ministry has no intentions to address this predicament.” Motshegwa said the advert on its own serves as an insult to the nursing profession as it seems to suggest that there is no succession plan in the cadre to an extent that retirees could be re-engaged. He said this does not only infringe on the principle of fairness laid down in the several court cases but rather the 12 vacancies also gave all nurses in D3 scale that legitimate expectation that they will be appointed or given priority to the posts more so that they qualify for them.
Motshegwa cited the cases of Sarah Mmoniemang Mothusi vs Attorney General and Mokokonyane vs Botswana Defence Force and others as some of those that have laid down the principle of fairness in this instance. “It is on the basis of the above that the advert is unfair if not unlawful as such request that it be withdrawn and be made internally for all deserving D3 officers to apply for the posts or alternatively and as a temporary measure be allowed to act for them instead of reserving them for retirees,” he added.
BLLAHWU also called on the ministry to appreciate the urgency and seriousness of the matter and withdraws the advert failing which the union, have no option but to interdict it. Now, the ministry says it had to withdraw the advertisement. Responding to Mmegi enquiry, the ministry’s Chief Public Relations Officer Dr Christopher Nyanga said “following a court order on this matter, the adverts have indeed been withdrawn”.
Furthermore, he explained that whilst it is true that the ministry intends to recruit senior and experienced nurses for the positions of Principal Nursing Officers, it is not correct that the ministry harbours any intentions to overlook or exclude anyone. “The ministry has trust in all its employees as many of them continue to serve their country and people diligently and with great commitment. It is for this reason that the ministry has no intentions of denying opportunities to any qualifying nurses,” Nyanga said.