Former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism Elias Magosi has delivered on his promises that he would quit the public service following a fallout with Minister Tshekedi Khama.
The latter heads the same ministry.
Magosi who was at the end of last year got redeployed to the Ministry of Transport and Communications confirmed this week that he has since notified the government of his intention to resign from the public.
“Yes I can confirm that as we speak I have given my employer notice,” he said.
Magosi’s decision to quit the public service does not come as a surprise as he informed the Committee on Statutory Bodies and Enterprises chaired by MP Guma Moyo that his relationship with Minister Khama had broken down irreparably.
The committee heard how Khama micro manages the Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO), a decision that saw its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Thabo Dithebe quitting in a space of a year at helm of the organisation.
When the two men appeared before the committee, Dithebe informed the committee that he was quitting and Magosi also indicated that he would follow suit.
Apart from being accused of running a one-man show at the tourism organisation, Khama is also accused taking decisions at the ministry that go against corporate governance.
Sources at the Ministry of Transport and Communications regretted the decision to quit the civil service saying he is currently enjoying a cordial working relationship with Minister Kitso Mokaila.
While he confirmed his resignation, Magosi remained cagey on the details of quitting his job. He said “I cannot comment further on the matter.”
On the 1st December 2016, Magosi was number one on the list of appointments and transfers of senior public officers which was announced by Permanent Secretary to the President (PSP) and Secretary to Cabinet Carter Morupisi. Magosi accepted the offer and then resigned within one month last December.
Three months ago Magosi shared his frustrations to the committee of Parliamentary Committee on Statutory Bodies and Enterprises saying that it should not come as a surprise when he also resigns from his job following the untimely resignation Dithebe.
“Earlier on MP Mokgware asked me about the relationship within the ministry and it is not a very cordial relationship and the position that I am in as the Accounting Officer and him as BTO CEO, we have been in an uncomfortable situations. You were making a joke earlier on that am I also on my out too….I won’t answer that question,” Magosi told the committee.
