SESSION WITH THE PRIME MINISTER:

thinking outside the box.

TOE: We have seen your interactions with the public through social media. Is this part of your strategy to be accessible and resonate with the public?

PM: Transparency and communication with the public are important tenets of good governance and I intend to sustain this practice.

TOE: In retrospect, what is it that you have done in the first 100 days since assuming office which will shape your legacy?

PM: We will issue a statement on this before the end of the week.

TOE: In the first 100 days, have you been able to transition from the corporate world to the leader of Cabinet, Parliament and the minister of police?

PM: The strength of government are the systems that are in place, which I have been able to rely on since I came into office. And I have noted that some of these systems need to be reviewed in order to bring efficiency.

TOE: As you were privileged to hear what the public expected from the prime minister during Sibaya; what have you assigned Cabinet ministers to achieve in the short-term, which was raised at the People’s Parliament?

PM: We have prioritised issues raised at Sibaya and we are in the process of integrating Sibaya submissions into government’s work programme.

TOE: In the long-term, what do you pray to have eradicated in the issues raised at Sibaya?

PM: Poverty, corruption and the culture of poor performance in the civil service.

TOE: What are the short-term policy frameworks which you seek to achieve collectively as Cabinet?

PM: Service delivery, job creation, wealth creation, investment and poverty eradication.

TOE: What policies as Cabinet have you set to be the legacy of your tenure?

PM: Service delivery and the fight against corruption.

TOE: What should the public expect from your office this year?

PM: Enhanced service delivery and a government that is facing to the people.

TOE: Cabinet inherited a call to abolish and restructure some of the parastatals to save over E1 billion in revenue as some of the State-owned enterprises were duplicating what is also offered by government. Will your Cabinet adopt this report and run with it?

PM: The report was adopted by the previous Cabinet and its implementation is a work in progress. The current Cabinet agrees that the number of SOEs should be reduced significantly. However, there are aspects that will have to be re-considered.