"Public servants will revolt against Govt"

 

A decision by Government to come up with a Voluntary Separation Project (VSP) which only targets Executive Cadres within the public service being E2 and above has sparked debate and anxiety at the government enclave.

According to a document labelled, Leadership Transformation Programme (LTP), VSP is a strategic component designed to support leadership renewal, organisational transformation, and workforce optimisation while providing eligible officers with a structured and voluntary transition pathway.

It also targets those aged between 40 to 60 years and participation is strictly Voluntary. The disagreement between the Directorate of Public Service Management (DPSM) and the public sector union on the matter has now reached boiling point with counter- accusations of deceit and misleading public servants. The two parties have traded accusations in public space over the issue. The tension escalated following the leaking of a Savingram, dated 29th June 2026, in which the DPSM called for applications indicating that the Voluntary Separation Application Portal for opting out is live and accessible with immediate effect. DPSM Director Gaone Macholo has defended the Transformation Programme arguing that it is needed for the reforms of the public service and condemned the leaking of the Memo.

She said those who leaked the Memo have been misleading the nation and omitted crucial information. She stated that the Minister for State President, Defence and Security, Moeti Mohwasa was to address the nation on the programme. She said the programme is very broad and deep. “The minister will explain it further. How it will benefit the public, improve service and have an effective public service,” she said. She said they should be given a chance and have everything explained broadly by the Minister.

Following the leaking of the savingram the scheduled address by Minister Mohwasa was cancelled indefinitely. This publication has established that the bickering by the two parties has created anxiety and frustration within the public service which is already consumed by low morale. The VSP has been described as clumsy as it does not state if it is about performance, redundancy or downsizing. According to the Transformation Programme the VSP excludes among others, Disciplined forces, non-citizen employees who have less than two (2) years in service, all Essential Services Professionals, Part-time employees, employees on long term training and employees who have given written notice of their intent to retire or resign from the public service prior to separation announcement date.

The LTP states that there will be different role players with roles and responsibilities. Government has been accused of failing to engage the public sector unions on the matter with criticism levelled against DPSM Director for misinforming her superiors. The structure of the Programme is argued to have been tailored to disadvantage other public servants who may want to leave after having served the public service for long. The unions are against the capping of VSP at 20 years of service.

They demand that it be left open so that even those at lower ranks who have served more than 20 years can benefit. There are fears that this could be politically motivated to target those believed to be aligned with the past regime of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP). The exercise, according to those closer to the development has public servants worried that those who are new in public service may also benefit because they do not have pension benefit. Another concern is that the exercise could be costly with the possibility of taking about 36 months to complete. Another hot potato is the DPSM’s decision to secretly implement a June 30 2026 Savingram on ‘Further Control Measures on Management of Local Per Diem Facility.’

The Savingram is said to have been issued while the matter was still active at the Public Service Bargaining Council (PSBC). Records show that the DPSM was put on notice during a meeting held 22nd June 2026 by six (6) public Sector union that no implementation of either Local Per Diem adjustment and that VSP should proceed until negotiations have been concluded. Botswana Public Employees Union (BOPEU) 1st Deputy President, Nzhi Moalosi issued a stern warning to the Employer party to withdraw both Savingrams. Moalosi said the actions are a disregard for the collective bargaining process and principles of good faith engagement. BOPEU has threatened to explore any avenues available including legal action should government forge ahead with the implementation.

Botswana Federation of Public Private and Parastatal Sectors Union (BOFEPUSU) Secretary General, Robert Rabasimane said with reference to the vacancies that will emanate from the voluntary separation scheme, there is no clarity as to whether they will be filled, or they are likely to be struck off the roll. “If the latter is the case, no one knows how many positions are targeted and the time frame within which they will be filled. If it is about redundancy, it should spell out clearly that certain positions in the hierarchy will be abolished hence a total refurbishment of the structure of the public service which requires a wholesale consultation of unions in public service,” said Rabasimane. “If it is about downsizing, the Director should come out clearly and address all the unions about the new structure of the public service and its envisaged management,” he said.

He contends that such a policy has the potential to cripple government operations under circumstances of stringent financial conditions. If this restructuring exercise is based on structural defects of the public service to improve efficiency, why is it not rolled out to the rest of the public service, asked Rabasimane. Veteran Trade Unionist, Johnson Motshwarakgole says the attitude by the DPSM will make public servants revolt against Government. He said if government does not leave the age beneficiary open, it has to cap the age at the longest serving public servant.

“The length of service gives better benefits. We have public servants who are middle managers who have served more than 20 years. We also warn the Minister for State President, Defence and Security, Moeti Mohwasa that he should not dare and speak about these issues which are still on the negotiating table. We are against Public service restructuring without consultation,” said Motswharakgole, who is also Manual Workers Union Business Consultant.