Gov’t rejects monetised PEMANDU
Government negotiators in the on and off discussions on conditions of service for public servants have proposed a Remuneration Policy for the Public Service while also warning that “any consideration of the conditions of service for the public service that have financial implications should be approached with caution.”
The negotiators agree that pressure for competitive pay from various cadres in the public service has resulted in Government enhancing salaries for selected cadres through allowances or regarding certain cadres in isolation of others. “These adhoc and piecemeal approaches have distorted the public service pay system,” they state in their position paper.
It is evident from the position paper that Government has more or less adopted all the recommendations of the PEMANDU Associates report but not those with financial implications. Government is underpinning its arguments on the economic conditions globally and domestically – which they argue is characterised by sluggish economic activity compounded by uncertainty in global markets. While acknowledging positive growth of 4.5% in the domestic propelled by non-mining sectors, Government points to a declining global economy which grew by 3.6% in 2018 and is anticipated to only grow at 3.3% in 2019.
Budget proposals for the 2018/2018 overall balance is estimated at a deficit of P6.35 billion (or 3.3 percent of GDP), which is expected to worsen to P7.79 billion (or 3.8 percent of GDP) in 2019/2020. “The latter is largely accounted for by the recent salary adjustment. This worsening of fiscal position is against the Government’s commitment of achieving budget balance or surpluses in the second half of NDP 11. Continuing in this trajectory will lead the country into a non-sustainable economic growth pathway.
This is against the backdrop that Botswana’s wage bill is high by international standards, as it currently stands at 11.3 percent of GDP, against the international threshold of 5.0 percent of GDP. A high wage bill has negative impacts in the economy as it erodes Government finances and therefore, needs to be compensated for by restraint in public spending, especially personnel emoluments, which account for a larger share in overall government recurrent expenditure,” reads the Government position paper.
Government argues that it introduced the Scarce Skills Allowance in March 2013 in an endeavour to attract and retain those skills that were perceived to be scarce at the time. “This was to be implemented for an interim period of 3 years whilst Government was working on introducing a broad banded pay structure. The broad banded structure was never introduced and the scarce skill allowance continued beyond the three years. The allowance no longer serves its purpose and has resulted in many challenges due to poor implementation resulting in endless litigation.”
PEMANDU Associates were engaged amongst others looking into the deferred recommendations through review of the Remuneration System. Government agrees that the public service salary rates are below market rates and not competitive in terms of attracting and retaining talent. “The gap is bigger at the higher grades,” states the report.
“Ob average public service pay scales substantially lag behind the national citizen market by 28%, 40% and 55% for Grade A and B, Grade C and D and Grade E and above respectively. “The parastatal CEOs are earning more than Permanent Secretaries,” it reads. The report further states that there are too many fragmented allowances and benefits, which leads to complex administration and distortion of the salary structure (41 allowances and 56 deductions). Government is of the view that the PEMANDU Consultancy report on remuneration and performance management, including negotiations of other conditions of service should be discussed separately from salary negotiations.
THE UNION PARTY IS NOT HAPPY
“We note with concern that the Employer Party has taken the view that the substantial salary adjustments awarded to the Disciplined Forces are irrelevant to the current negotiations, ostensibly because the Disciplined Forces are not governed by the Public Service Act (PSA).”
Unions observe that it is unfortunate that merely because of the artificial divide created by four constitutive statutes, the PSA, the Botswana Defence Force Act, the Police Act and the Prisons Act, the employer party fails to appreciate that these statues govern employees of the same government, who serve the same public and are resourced from the same pool.
They argues that any decision that unreasonably favours one or more of these categories of government employees that excludes one or more of the others, is inevitably invidious to the excluded party (parties), and therefore constitutes an unfair labour practice. “This is the reason the salary structures of the disciplined have historically mirror that of the “Public Service”. Indeed, public sector salary adjustment are routinely extended to the disciplined forces. This happens, not as a matter of tradition and custom, but rather as a result of the substantive reality that these cadres are employed by the same government and serve the same public as those governed by the PSA.”
UNION PROPOSALS
Taking into account the quarter one adjustments to the salaries of the disciplined forces, the Union Party recommends as follows:
Remove the A3 Band of the public sector salary structure: This will action will move the entry level salary in the public towards the P30000/annum recommended by the Union Party during the February 2019 salary negotiations and position the lowest paid workers to qualify for the public sector pension scheme.
Move every cadre one band up the public sector salary structure: This, as Table 3.5 shows, means that A3 becomes A2, A2 becomes A1…, and F1 becomes F0. This will have the effect of restoring parity between Directors and their equivalents in the disciplined forces. Below D1, the adjustment will narrow the gap between public sector cadres and their equivalents in the disciplined forces by one band. For instance, the entry band for fresh university graduates will move from C3 to C2 compared to D4 for the disciplined forces.
Consistent with the recommendations of the De Villiers Commission, public servants should be provided with accommodation or be paid a housing allowance of 15% of basic salary in lieu of accommodation. Accommodation is a big source of pay iniquity between the public service and the disciplined forces, and within the PSA governed part of the public service.
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Nigerians, Zimbabweans apply for Chema Chema Fund
Fronting activities, where locals are used as a front for foreign-owned businesses, have been a long-standing issue in Botswana. These activities not only undermine the government’s efforts to promote local businesses but also deprive Batswana of opportunities for economic empowerment, officials say. The Ministry of Trade and Industry has warned of heavy penalties for those involved in fronting activities especially in relation to the latest popular government initiative dubbed Chema Chema.
According to the Ministry, the Industrial Development Act of 2019 clearly outlines the consequences of engaging in fronting activities. The fines of up to P50,000 for first-time offenders and P20,000 plus a two-year jail term for repeat offenders send a strong message that the government is serious about cracking down on this illegal practice. These penalties are meant to deter individuals from participating in fronting activities and to protect the integrity of local industries.
“It is disheartening to hear reports of collaboration between foreigners and locals to exploit government initiatives such as the Chema Chema Fund. This fund, administered by CEDA and LEA, is meant to support informal traders and low-income earners in Botswana. However, when fronting activities come into play, the intended beneficiaries are sidelined, and the funds are misused for personal gain.” It has been discovered that foreign nationals predominantly of Zimbabwean and Nigerian origin use unsuspecting Batswana to attempt to access the Chema Chema Fund. It is understood that they approach these Batswana under the guise of drafting business plans for them or simply coming up with ‘bankable business ideas that qualify for Chema Chema.’
Observers say the Chema Chema Fund has the potential to uplift the lives of many Batswana who are struggling to make ends meet. They argue that it is crucial that these funds are used for their intended purpose and not siphoned off through illegal activities such as fronting. The Ministry says the warning it issued serves as a reminder to all stakeholders involved in the administration of these funds to ensure transparency and accountability in their disbursement.
One local commentator said it is important to highlight the impact of fronting activities on the local economy and the livelihoods of Batswana. He said by using locals as a front for foreign-owned businesses, opportunities for local entrepreneurs are stifled, and the economic empowerment of Batswana is hindered. The Ministry’s warning of heavy penalties is a call to action for all stakeholders to work together to eliminate fronting activities and promote a level playing field for local businesses.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Trade and Industry’s warning of heavy penalties for fronting activities is a necessary step to protect the integrity of local industries and promote economic empowerment for Batswana. “It is imperative that all stakeholders comply with regulations and work towards a transparent and accountable business environment. By upholding the law and cracking down on illegal activities, we can ensure a fair and prosperous future for all Batswana.”
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Merck Foundation and African First Ladies mark World Health Day 2024
Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany marks “World Health Day” 2024 together with Africa’s First Ladies who are also Ambassadors of MerckFoundation “More Than a Mother” Campaign through their Scholarship and Capacity Building Program. Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation emphasized, “At Merck Foundation, we mark World Health Day every single day of the year over the past 12 years, by building healthcare capacity and transforming patient care across Africa, Asia and beyond.
I am proud to share that Merck Foundation has provided over 1740 scholarships to aspiring young doctors from 52 countries, in 44 critical and underserved medical specialties such as Oncology, Diabetes, Preventative Cardiovascular Medicine, Endocrinology, Sexual and Reproductive Medicine, Acute Medicine, Respiratory Medicine, Embryology & Fertility specialty, Gastroenterology, Dermatology, Psychiatry, Emergency and Resuscitation Medicine, Critical Care, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Neonatal Medicine, Advanced Surgical Practice, Pain Management, General Surgery, Clinical Microbiology and infectious diseases, Internal Medicine, Trauma & Orthopedics, Neurosurgery, Neurology, Cardiology, Stroke Medicine, Care of the Older Person, Family Medicine, Pediatrics and Child Health, Obesity & Weight Management, Women’s Health, Biotechnology in ART and many more”.
As per the available data, Africa has only 34.6% of the required doctors, nurses, and midwives. It is projected that by 2030, Africa would need additional 6.1 million doctors, nurses, and midwives*. “For Example, before the start of the Merck Foundation programs in 2012; there was not a single Oncologist, Fertility or Reproductive care specialists, Diabetologist, Respiratory or ICU specialist in many countries such as The Gambia, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Central African Republic, Guinea, Burundi, Niger, Chad, Ethiopia, Namibia among others. We are certainly creating historic legacy in Africa, and also beyond. Together with our partners like Africa’s First Ladies, Ministries of Health, Gender, Education and Communication, we are impacting the lives of people in the most disadvantaged communities in Africa and beyond.”, added Senator Dr. Kelej. Merck Foundation works closely with their Ambassadors, the African First Ladies and local partners such as; Ministries of Health, Education, Information & Communication, Gender, Academia, Research Institutions, Media and Art in building healthcare capacity and addressing health, social & economic challenges in developing countries and under-served communities. “I strongly believe that training healthcare providers and building professional healthcare capacity is the right strategy to improve access to equitable and quality at health care in Africa.
Therefore, I am happy to announce the Call for Applications for 2024 Scholarships for young doctors with special focus on female doctors for our online one-year diploma and two year master degree in 44 critical and underserved medical specialties, which includes both Online Diploma programs and On-Site Fellowship and clinical training programs. The applications are invited through the Office of our Ambassadors and long-term partners, The First Ladies of Africa and Ministry of Health of each country.” shared Dr . Kelej. “Our aim is to improve the overall health and wellbeing of people by building healthcare capacity across Africa, Asia and other developing countries. We are strongly committed to transforming patientcare landscape through our scholarships program”, concluded Senator Kelej.
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Interpol fugitive escapes from Botswana
John Isaak Ndovi, a Tanzanian national embroiled in controversy and pursued under a red notice by the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), has mysteriously vanished, bypassing a scheduled bail hearing at the Extension 2 Magistrate Court in Gaborone. Previously apprehended by Botswana law enforcement at the Tlokweng border post several months earlier, his escape has ignited serious concerns.
Accused of pilfering assets worth in excess of P1 million, an amount translating to roughly 30,000 Omani Riyals, Ndovi has become a figure of paramount interest, especially to the authorities in the Sultanate of Oman, nestled in the far reaches of Asia.
The unsettling news of his disappearance surfaced following his failure to present himself at the Extension 2 Magistrate Court the preceding week. Speculation abounds that Ndovi may have sought refuge in South Africa in a bid to elude capture, prompting a widespread mobilization of law enforcement agencies to ascertain his current location.
In an official communiqué, Detective Senior Assistant Police Commissioner Selebatso Mokgosi of Interpol Gaborone disclosed Ndovi’s apprehension last September at the Tlokweng border, a capture made possible through the vigilant issuance of the Interpol red notice.
At 36, Ndovi is implicated in a case of alleged home invasion in Oman. Despite the non-existence of an extradition treaty between Botswana and Oman, Nomsa Moatswi, the Director of the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP), emphasized that the lack of formal extradition agreements does not hinder her office’s ability to entertain extradition requests. She highlighted the adoption of international cooperation norms, advocating for collaboration through the lenses of international comity and reciprocity.
Moatswi disclosed the intensified effort by law enforcement to locate Ndovi following his no-show in court, and pointed to Botswana’s track record of extraditing two international fugitives from France and Zimbabwe in the previous year as evidence of the country’s relentless pursuit of legal integrity.
When probed about the potential implications of Ndovi’s case on Botswana’s forthcoming evaluation by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), Moatswi reserved her speculations. She acknowledged the criticality of steering clear of blacklisting, suggesting that this singular case is unlikely to feature prominently in the FATF’s assessment criteria.