Public servants in Ngamiland demand special payment
Boniface Keakabetse | Friday January 23, 2015 18:53
Senior civil servants informed Markus at the Rural Administration Centre (RAC) in Maun, about the challenges affecting the civil service delivery. They complained of poor working conditions, which result in many people shunning Ngamiland. They said the district does not retain staff because many refuse to serve there, while others prefer to be transferred from there. It was explained that there is a critical shortage of transport for government departments in Ngamiland. Government was also blamed for availing the wrong type of vehicles, not suitable for the sandy terrain of the district.
” We need Toyota LandCruisers here, not the Mahindras,” quipped one of the civil servants at the meeting.
Briefing the MP, acting Ngamiland District Commissioner, Keabetswe Lesiela, said that government may soon ban the boards of trustees for the community trusts in the area because of the misuse of funds.
He said the money made by the community trusts only benefits members of the boards, while community members are left in the lurch. Lesiela also expressed concern about education problems affecting the district. He said the district is one of the worst performers in school examinations. According to Lesiela, politicians have to encourage their constituents all over the district to start playing a part in their children’s education.
“Parents in Ngamiland are not taking part in the education of their children and we request you, MP, to please talk and encourage your constituents,” Lesiela pleaded with Markus.
He also requested Markus to help talk to the farmers to encourage them to agree to receive their payments for various agriculture programmes through the bank.
He noted that currently, most farmers who are elders do not want to receive the payments through the banks, which is unsafe for the paying officers.
Lesiela said paying by hand is cumbersome and poses a security concern for the money.
Lesiela also notified Markus about the rising number of teenage pregnancies in the district. He said even Standard Seven female students have dropped out of school due to teenage pregnancy.
Meanwhile, the head of the District Health Team in Ngami, Christopher Chembe told Mmegi after the MP’s meeting that the district has formed a teenage pregnancy task force composed of different government departments to help curb the problem. Chembe said 14% of the 260 babies born at Letsholathebe Memorial Hospital were given birth to by teenagers younger than 16 years.
Markus promised to help solve the problem. He, however, hinted that he is equally concerned about the inefficiencies of the community trusts since the government decided to ban hunting and replaced it with photographic tourism.
He said many of the trusts, despite the said financial mismanagement problems, are now out of business.