Deputy permanent secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture Kekgonne Baipoledi sent veiled threats to the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) staff, warning them to implement the agriculture component of the ESP in its entirety or face dismissal.Government is apparently worried that some of its top officers sympathetic to the rising opposition parties may sabotage the ESP.Addressing the DVS Conference at Maun Lodge on Wednesday, Baipoledi said government expects them to implement the agriculture component of the ESP as it is not for them to start negatively critiquing it. Baipoledi, who said he was passing a message from his bosses, told the attendants that any officer who has qualms with the ESP will be relieved of their duties forthwith.
“If you do not see yourself driving these strategies, you do not have a job with us,” said Baipoledi. Baipoledi emphasised that the agriculture part of the ESP strives to make the sector achieve significant growth through commercialisation and implementation of agriculture sector strategies. He said the strategies include facilitating the processing, packaging and marketing of agriculture produce through the formation of clusters. It also entails accelerated fencing, promoting grey and raw water use for agriculture expansion and also the provision of agricultural infrastructure in rural areas.
