BY MBONGENI NDLELA
MBABANE – At least 520 civil servants under the Ministry of Home Affairs will from now on go to work dressed in a new and better uniform.
This will be the case after the workers and MPs requested that an appropriate dress code be procured for the ministry’s staff as they are the first to welcome visitors to the country.
It has been gathered that every Home Affairs officer has been encouraged to wear the uniform five days a week.
Eswatini Positive News has established that the ministry started distributing the uniform on Monday.
Information gathered is that a budget worth E4.5 million was set aside for its procurement and this has brought excitement and relief to civil servants from the ministry.
True to the adage that says a dress code or appearance policy allows an employer to set expectations regarding the image it wants the department to convey, the ministry believes that introducing an appropriate dress code will promote professionalism.
According to Mlandvo Dlamini, Communications Officer at Home Affairs, when Minister Princess Lindiwe Dlamini took office, she engaged in a program wherein she toured all departments including border posts and service centres.
Dlamini explained that during the touring, what became a conspicuous concern was the need for new uniforms for the staff.
This concern, Dlamini disclosed, was further raised in the August House by concerned MPs who argued that tourists visiting Eswatini meet Home Affairs officers first at the border before touring the country; hence there was a serious need for proper uniform officers at the borders.
“The concern was that Home Affairs officers should dress presentable and professionally, not the worn clothes they used to wear at work,” said Dlamini.
“Reacting to the concerns, the ministry appointed a committee which was led by the Under Secretary. The committee comprised members from Civil Registration, Immigration Department, and Refugee. The committee was in charge of all the procurement processes that got allocated E4.5 million budget,” explained Dlamini.
He said the procured uniform includes jerseys, trousers, skirts, shirts, and shoes.
“The uniform has already been distributed and all workers under the ministry will be identified by the uniform,” he said.
Meanwhile, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs Nhlanhla Nxumalo has encouraged Home Affairs staff to always wear the uniform, especially the officers on border posts and front desks.
“They should also put on the name tags so that clients who might want to appreciate good service by a staff member can easily identify that person by name,” the PS said.
WHAT HOME AFFAIRS STAFF HAD TO SAY:
Russell Vusumuzi Nxumalo – National Services Registrar
“We would like to let the nation know, as well as lead with gratitude to the Minister, as well the department that facilitated for us to have a uniform. The statistics department now has a uniform with the Home Affairs emblem. Beneath the emblem is the words ‘Civil Registration. The staff also has name tags now. We kindly inform you that when you visit offices, the staff will be wearing uniforms, and you should ask for a name tag if the staff member is not wearing the uniform. Otherwise, all staff members will now be in uniform as they help the nation”.
Sikhumbuzo Leon Zeeman, Immigration Officer One at the Immigration Office.
“We were delegated by the Ministry as the Uniform Committee to assess how we can help the Ministry to procure uniforms. We are grateful to the Minister that we have been successful and the Ministry has been able to procure all the necessary uniforms. What took us some time, about five to six months, was the production of the uniforms. We are happy that they have delivered all the uniforms now. From now on the Home Affairs Office will be uniform and this includes the Immigration Office, Refugees, and Civil Registrations. All our clients will now be helped by uniformed offices in the Ministry as well as in the borders. We are grateful that the Ministry help us in this regard. We have had a challenge with this issue because anyone could claim that they work in one of our offices. The nation is therefore warned not to believe anyone who claims to be an officer at the Home Affairs Office without a uniform. Officers are also encouraged to always wear their name tag. There are two different kinds of name tags – there is a small one which is pinned to the uniform by Civil Registration officers, and then there’s one which hangs on a lanyard and is used by officers in the Immigration Office.”
Phumlani Zwane – Assistant Regional Civil Registrar
“We are grateful to His Majesty’s Government. Here we are now with our uniforms – our civilian clothes will now be reserved for the weekends and our traditional attire for visiting regiments. We thank His Majesty’s Government along with the Principal Secretary, the Undersecretary, as well as the Head of Department. The uniform is amazing, it fits well, and we got enough shirts and suits for each day of the workweek.”
Misiwe Hlatshwayo in the Immigration Office
“We would like to the thank Government for getting us uniforms as Home Affairs Immigration. It helps us be easily identifiable as officers – we really appreciate it. Anyone who comes into our offices will now know they are getting helped by legitimate officers, such that there should not be a situation where someone gets help and doesn’t know from whom. This is because of the new name tags. We urge the Government to continue such initiatives – we are very grateful.”
“Uniform is part of work as the people who help you should be identifiable. The uniform makes it clear that the Government recognizes them and does not want to hide who they are. We are happy about the development and that it will continue to be maintained going forward, to also help with the image of the Ministry. We are already getting positive reviews from the public, citing that they appreciate knowing who’s helping them, as well as the fact they look good at work. We would like to appreciate the Minister of Home Affairs Princess Lindiwe, who on behalf of His Majesty has led us in attaining this milestone.”
