The Directorate of Public Service Management (DPSM) recently distributed to government departments a draft code of conduct which it has developed for the public service.

It includes some stiff regulations for civil servants, including ratting on one another on matters of corruption and abuse of office.

According to the draft code, the government will ban certain types of clothing for public officers when on duty. Out is the micro-mini skirt defined as more than 20 centimetres above the knee.

Also to be banished are jeans, body hugging clothes, revealing clothing, bareback clothing, sleeveless clothing and casual shoes like toe sandals, platform shoes and flip-flops or diphathaphatha.

Casual knee-length or three-quarter pants will also go to the dumpster, as will T-shirts, golf shirts, gym wear, including sports shoes, track suits and short pants.

According to the proposed code, civil servants will sign a declaration of business interests in which they will declare their assets and liabilities.

Public servants will be expected to present themselves in a respectable and neat manner, which portrays the public service in good light. They will also be expected to avoid the consumption and the after effects of intoxicating and unauthorised habit forming drugs, including alcohol, during working hours or on government premises.

Puffing (smoking) will be prohibited in government premises, as will lighting up in public places. Also to be proscribed is chewing of gum in the presence of clients.

Among the tougher tenets of the code is one calling on civil servants to show loyalty to the political party in power. The proposed code states that employees of the public service will serve with honesty and give "strong" support to the elected political leadership to ensure uninterrupted and consistent public business.

"An employees is allowed to exercise his or her constitutional right to vote in an election and is entitled to his or her political views, but shall serve the government of the day with loyality, regardless of his or her political affiliation," the proposed code says.

Without infringing his or her constitution rights, an employee shall not:

i. do anything calculated to further the interests of any political party; ii. publicly speak, campaign or demonstrate for or against any politician or political party; iii. be an active member or hold political office; iv. pass information, material or documents availed through his or her position to any political party; and v. use government resources for political activities.

More strictures include the prohibition of disclosing any confidential information gained by virtue of an employees work to any unauthorised person. Use of any information or document which came to the knowledge of an employee in the course of duty for private purposes is also to be proscribed, unless authorised.

As for conduct in relation to other employees, the code directs that an employee shall avoid work place relationships that have a negative impact on performance. Workplace bullies will not be tolerated.

But the proposed code officially recognises the right to belong to a trade union of choice and collective bargaining, except those in management positions in terms of existing labour legislation.

Conflict of interest is to be barred in favour of placing the public interest ahead. While moonlighting is not to be outlawed, civil servants will be expected to seek the permission of the Permanent Secretary prior to engaging in private or part time employment, publishing books or articles that directly or indirectly deal with official duties.

Bribery is to be a thing of the past when employees refuse gifts, inducements, any reward or hospitality and any benefits that may have a real or apparent influence on the employee's objectivity in carrying out public business.

"The government reserves the right to require any employee to terminate or dispose of any private interest which might lead to a conflict of interest," the proposed code says.

Part II of the code deals with the public service road map and covers issues such as the public interest, discipline, professional integrity and botho. Public employees will be expected to serve their customers with competence, excellence and objectivity, while adhering to the highest standards of professionalism and adapt to changing needs through innovation.

"The public service shall be guided by the principle of botho as enshrined in our Setswana culture," it says. "Service with botho is characterised by humility, dignity, courtesy and respect for every person, regardless of his or her status in life."

It also deals with development, performance improvement and freedom from corruption.

Under the new creed, employees are not only to be vigilant on issues of corruption and abuse of office, they will be required "actively participate" in the fight against corruption by reporting improper activities and assisting in bringing offenders to justice.

Among its stated objectives, the proposed code points to principles covering appropriate conduct in a variety of contexts to promote respect, fairness and honesty in doing public business as well as to compliment the existing rules and regulations governing the public service.

The provisions of the code will be interpreted in compliance with the Public Service Act and Regulations, the Employment Act, General Orders and other laws in the public service.

He said that the Zimbabwe Staff College delegation was in Botswana for a week (from August 9 to August 16). Baatweng revealed that the 12-month staff college course is designed for middle management officers, mostly of the rank of major, who upon successful completion are assigned to senior positions. "The delegation was here on a geo-political and strategic studies tour of Botswana. This is the normal practice in countries, which have such colleges," he stated.

He further revealed that two delegations of the BDF Defence Command and Staff College are also undertaking similar tours in Zambia and South Africa. "You may also wish to know that we are expecting a visit of Zambia Staff College in the near future," he said.

Baatweng further confirmed that some Zimbabwe Defence Force members recently participated in the International Military Sports Council (CISM) Eastern and Southern African Liaison Office (ESALO) Tennis Competition, which was hosted by Botswana early July. Botswana hosted games, and other countries, which participated were Lesotho and South Africa. Sources in the BDF say that the Zimbabwe flag was not in full mast for fear of the highest office. "The Commander ordered that the flag should be in full mast. He stated that he has no problem with Zimbabweans," said a source.

Baatweng denied that Army Commander, Lieutenant General Tebogo Masire, ever uttered such words. "The commander has never mentioned anything about his personal feelings with regard to any country, including Zimbabwe. The relationship between BDF and other sister defence forces in the region, including Zimbabwe, has always been cordial and amicable," he said. "That man has an independent mind - very unpredictable," the source added.

He further dismissed a view held by some soldiers that the commander has expressed discontent with the president. "The president and the commander of the BDF have a working relationship spanning over 31 years, 21 of which they worked closely together in the BDF. For this reason, their cordial relationship based on professionalism and respect cannot be doubted," Baatweng said.