25 Nov 2024

Government is steadfast in achieving the transformation agenda which is centred on the interconnected pillars of restoring trust, revitalising the economy and building equity.

Addressing the media in Gaborone today, Minister for State President, Mr Moeti Mohwasa said there were on-going reforms to transform government to be more productive, build a robust economy and a thriving society as well as reinforcing the fabric of the nation for future generations.

He noted that the transformative commitments and actions would be rolled out  in the next 100 days  by February 2025.

Such reforms, Minister Mohwasa said included the review and amendment of the Electoral Act as well as review of IEC mandate and functional structure with the view to make the institution more autonomous and independent from the government.

“The Umbrella for Democratic Change government remains fully committed to the desire to introducing counting of votes at polling stations as opposed to the current status and we are hopeful to table the necessary amendments before parliament in no time,” he said.

He said the review and amendment of the Directorate of Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) Act to strengthen the anti-corruption and crime prevention institution remained government priority.

In reviewing the DCEC mandate, he said government would make the institution autonomous and directly answerable to Parliament.

As stated in the State-of-the -Nation Address, Mr Mohwasa said government would undertake a financial and forensic audit to investigate and identify waste, corruption, inefficacies, examine the functional efficacy of existing systems and institutions followed by a plan for corrective actions.

The minister said government would reform the public sector institutions to make them more efficient, transparent and responsive to the needs of Batswana including reviews of key state-owned enterprises to improve governance and operational efficiency.

He indicated that government had engaged with the Director of Public Service Management(DPSM) to resuscitate the bargaining council by end of February next year.

“We are keen to remove all bottlenecks that impedes quality deliverance of government policies to the citizenry with the hope that the civil service will also be disciplined enough to roll out the policies promptly and in good faith without sabotaging the ruling government,” he said.

With regard to government communication, Mr Mohwasa said government would also consider the autonomy of the state media  noting that the Department of Broadcasting Services would be transformed into a public broadcaster.

“The UDC has always being clear during the campaign trail that it was against the use of state media as government propaganda tool thus there is need for change to ensure media independence and fairness,” he said.

He said consideration would also be made for introduction of indigenous languages in the state media in this case, Btv and Radio Botswana.

Minister Mohwasa thus indicated that there would be a review and amendment of all regulatory framework that constrain freedom of speech including amendment of the Media Practitioner Act 2022 and BOCCRA Act 2013.

Mr Mohwasa said government would  also accelerate extension of affordable connectivity options to the entire country including access to Internet for rural communities and community centres with the aim to connect 100 rural schools by end of November and 300 more in early 2025.

In recognition of role played by the private sector in the development of the economy, Mr Mohwasa highlighted government commitment to resuscitate the High Level Consultative Council (HLCC) which had not been operational since 2019.

The resuscitation, he said would re-align HLCC structures in an effort to promote a dynamic and productive partnership between the public and the private sector.

With government having committed to creating 500 000 jobs in the next five years, Minister Mohwasa said plans were underway to prepare the HLCC meeting to convene to earnestly continue the drive for employment creation. ENDS