In a bid to foster delivery within the public service, President Ian Khama has directed his cabinet, led by Vice President Ponatshego Kedikilwe, to monitor government programmes and projects closely and frequently.
This has been revealed by the Minister of Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Mokgweetsi Masisi, in an interview with Sunday Standard.
Masisi said that from now on, Ministers and their juniors would from time to time make  unannounced visits at projects sites as well as in government offices countrywide as part of the monitoring of service delivery.
The minister said that the monitoring will help purge non-performers as well as reward excelling public servants.
“It has become apparent that there is a great need to confirm and validate some of the reports that we get,” said Masisi.
He said that where it is evident that there is bad service and lack of delivery, action will be taken.
“There shall be consequences…both positive and negative,” he said, adding that officers who are rude or disparaging to members of the public will not be tolerated.
Perhaps as part of an early campaign strategy, government intends to broaden interaction with members of the public beyond kgotla meetings.
The political leadership also intends to engage regularly with civil servants on their conditions of service and between civil servants and ministers as well as Assistant ministers.
“Many of our communities are complaining about the quality of our services…many of our institutions are over burdened and they need us to look for ways to assist them,” he said.
Masisi applauded the media for its reportage of poverty related issues and the social ills afflicting society.
“In your various ways you do help us because you hear and see that which we are unable to hear or see,” he stated.
Masisi has, however, denied that the latest initiative is a campaign pathway ahead of the general elections next year.
“We are doing our job…We campaign on the basis of our track record.”
The minister announced that it has been resolved that cabinet deliberations would be made public as a gesture of encouraging openness and good governance.
He said that the statements would be made through a press statement by the secretary of cabinet   and Permanent Secretary to the President, Eric Molale.
“Where it’s issues affecting specific ministries, Ministers and head of ministries will hold press conferences to share such cabinet deliberations with the rest of the public,” he said.
