Gov't to stop outsourcing cleaning, security
Innocent Selatlhwa | Wednesday October 15, 2025 10:07
Amongst key reforms, the government has resolved to adopt a hybrid public service delivery model that places stronger emphasis on insourcing.
This decision, Mohwasa says, follows findings from the Botswana Institute for Development Policy Analysis (BIDPA) evaluation of the Public Service Outsourcing Programme (PSOP), which revealed that whilst outsourcing offered some administrative relief, it also led to poor working conditions, job insecurity, and inconsistent service quality.
Mohwasa said the hybrid model aims to balance efficiency with fairness and sustainability. “It will retain outsourcing only in sectors where it has proven effective, whilst considering insourcing functions like cleaning, gardening, and security, where outsourcing has consistently failed to deliver value for money or protect workers,” he said.
According to the minister, key priorities under this model include: ensuring decent work standards and fair wages for all public service workers; enhancing accountability through clear performance indicators and contract monitoring; promoting citizen-owned enterprises where outsourcing remains applicable; and strengthening institutional capacity and labour protections through legal and policy reforms.
He said the insourcing-oriented hybrid model reflects a pragmatic and people-centred approach to public sector reform. He said it promotes efficiency, social equity, and sustainable employment whilst ensuring that public services remain responsive, transparent, and inclusive.
Mohwasa said that as part of reviewing the outsourcing model, the government will consider putting in place a hybrid model. Currently, as part of ensuring the feasibility of the hybrid model, a pilot is currently undertaken to see whether outsourcing of motor vehicles from the private sector can be adopted across government.
As part of promoting a more inclusive and accountable governance, the minister said the government will, during NDP12, finalise and implement the National Decentralisation Policy. This policy, he said, marks a significant milestone in Botswana’s democratic journey, transitioning from a hybrid, deconcentrated system to a fully devolved local governance model.
“The policy seeks to empower local authorities with decision-making authority, financial autonomy, and implementation capacity to bring the government closer to the people. It will further enable citizens to actively participate in planning, financing, implementing, and monitoring local development, thereby enhancing accountability, responsiveness, and efficiency,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mohwasa said the government is steadfast in its resolve to attain Universal Health Coverage. This, he said, involves reengineering of the whole health system as well as the introduction of a sustainable health financing scheme–The National Health Insurance.
“During NDP12, the government is undertaking the necessary reforms that include digitalisation of the health system, development of standards of care and drafting of laws on health care quality,” he said.
As part of enhancing social protection programmes aimed at improving the lives of Batswana, Mohwasa said during NDP12, government is committed towards reviewing social programmes including provision of sanitary pads; monthly allowance of P300 for newborns, allowance increment for TVET students with first phase introduction of P1,600; increment of student allowance to P2,500 and increasing Old Age Pension allowance from P1,400 to P1,800, construction of 100,000 houses and undertaking of constitutional review during NDP12.
“This plan embraces new funding models, new economic sectors, and a renewed commitment to public sector transformation. By tackling inefficiency and corruption and enabling a private-sector-led growth model, we intend to make Botswana one of the best-managed economies in Africa,” he said.
Parliament will convene on Thursday to debate the bill.