Hon. Mots’oane issued the warning during a meeting with public servants held at the District Administrator’s Office grounds in Botha-Bothe.
He said whenever he presents salary structures and requests for salary increments in Parliament, he is also expected to present performance reviews demonstrating that public servants are performing well.
He said without evidence of improved performance, it becomes difficult for him to advocate for salary reviews.
Honourable Mots’oane said it had become a norm for some public servants to underperform or fail to perform their duties altogether, making it difficult for those advocating for salary increments to make a strong case.
“The purpose of my visit to public servants is to take their views on how they would like to see this country in the future, to understand the situations that they are faced with and how best to solve the challenges,” he said.
He said upon assuming responsibility for the ministry, he was informed that one of its mandates was to ensure the welfare of civil servants.
“When I got to this Ministry, I was told that another mandate of the ministry is to make sure that the welfare of the civil servants is good so that when I demand performance, I will be knowing that the houses they stay in are in good condition for someone to live in.
“We need to make sure that public servants outside of the city do not feel neglected,” he said.
Public Service Deputy Principal Secretary, Mr Ntsu Shale, said performance contracts should be prioritized by all ministries to assess whether they are achieving their targets.
He also raised concerns about some public servants who do not perform their duties, saying this sometimes delays processes, particularly when employees retire.
Meanwhile, Department of Culture’s Mr Sehlabala Mokolobetsi told the Minister that a lack of resources was among the reasons some civil servants fail to perform to the expected standard.
He said his office has broken desks and chairs and lacks a heating system or heaters, yet employees are expected to report for duty every day, even during cold weather.
Mrs Malebotho Lehae from the Ministry of Home Affairs also complained that her office has only two permanent staff members who are expected to lead a team of approximately 150 employees without adequate resources.
She said the system used to recruit the 150 staff members was also affecting their work because some employees report for duty without the necessary knowledge or training.
The Minister also announced that Public Service Day 2026 will be celebrated across all districts.
He concluded his visit by inspecting government houses and offices to assess their condition.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Government of Lesotho.
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