BDF interdicts 66 members
Baboki Kayawe | Friday July 17, 2015 11:50
Parliament heard yesterday when the Defence,Justice and Security minister Shaw Kgathi responded to a question from Gabane-Mmankgodi MP, Pius Mokgware.
Mokgware had inquired about the number of BDF members on interdiction and reasons for this act. Kgathi said reasons for these interdictions are as provided for under the BDF Act Section 117 (1).
“Which states that ‘where a person subject to the BDF Act is under investigation, with a view to institute criminal proceedings against him (or her), either before a civil court or court martial, the Commander or any officer so authorised by the Commander, may suspend such person from performance of his (or her) duties pending the outcome of proceedings arising there from,” said Kgathi.
He added the cases are diverse and some are still under investigation while others are before courts. “We therefore cannot say with certainty when the matters will be concluded,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health has acknowledged shortage of lecturers at the Francistown Institute of Health Sciences.
Responding to a question from Francistown East MP, Buti Billy, minister Dorcas Makgato said according to the curricula, the institution’s lecturer: student ration is 1:5 for optimal clinical teaching. However, the current ratios for the Higher Diploma in General Nursing and Advanced Diploma in Midwifery surpass the stipulated quota.
“The current ratios for the academic year 2014/2015 are 1:8 and 1:7 for General Nursing and Midwifery respectively,” Makgato said.
Moreover, she is alive to concerns that progression for both teaching and non-teaching staff is stagnant at this institution.
“This is attributable to non-availability of positions to effect progression in a timely manner,” she said. Currently, the ministry is undergoing an organisational transformation that would, amongst others, take on board initiatives geared towards attracting and retaining health care workers including IHS employees, explained Makgato.