It is just a matter of four months before the Public Enterprises Evaluation and Privatization Agency (PEEPA) records a full year without a functional board of directors.
The government privatizing agency appointed Obakeng Moumakwa as its Chief Executive Officer about 6 months ago. He however finds an empty board room following the departure of both the former board chairman, CEO and a majority of the then board of directors.
This week, the Permanent Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Presidential Affairs and Public Administration Thuso Ramodimoosi confirmed that the agency has been operating without a fully functional Board since November 2017 when 6 out of 7 of the Board members contracts expired.
“As a result of this circumstance the Chief Executive Officer currently reports to the Minister through the Permanent Secretary,” stated Ramodimoosi.
While it is not clear what’s causing the delay of the appointment of a new board, there are fears that the non-existence of it could lead to the delay of the agency’s national agenda.
PEEPA is tasked with amongst other things to advise the government on privatisation, implementation of privatisation strategies which includes commercialization, restructuring, outsourcing and divesture interventions for the effectiveness and efficiency of PEs and Ministries as well as promoting good corporate governance in PEs.
As it stands, operations at PEEPA are said to have been paralyzed the current set up.
Ramodimoosi also admitted that all issues that require the Boards approval are currently waiting for its appointment. Without time frame commitment, Ramodimoosi said that the appointment of a new Board will occur as soon as possible.
Top of the PEEA’s privatization agenda include the long awaited controversial privatization of the national airline Air Botswana and the beef selling agency – Botswana Meat Commission (BMC).
