The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP)dangles parastatal top positions on the faces of opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) in an attempt to destabilise the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC).
The BDP hopes to entice the MPs with executive positions that guarantee some level of financial freedom.
So far, targeted MPs have refused to take the bait. One of those who have reportedly been targeted for recruitment took to his social media platform earlier this year to expose attempts by Vice President Slumber Tsogwane to recruit him just before the controversial bill banning floor crossing was passed by Parliament.
He said he had also received a similar call from Minister of Presidential Affairs Kabo Morwaeng declaring his love for him and how he (Morwaeng) wishes he could join and help them run the country. “My reply was I’m ok, the country needs checks and balances,” Nevah Tshabang wrote.
The passing of the Constitutional Amendment Bill banning floor crossing earlier this year all but secured President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s grip on power by taking away the only leverage the BDP backbench had against him.
Now with his backbench in the pocket, Masisi has turned to government jobs to lure opposition MPs. In return, the ‘successful’ candidate has to abandon active participation in opposition politics. The strategy is nothing new to the BDP. The party has used the same to successfully convince then UDC Goodhope-Mabule legislator James Mathokgwane immediately following the 2014 General Elections.
Mathokgwane was awarded a lucrative executive position at SPEDU in Selebi Phikwe which he still holds to date. The move however backfired, with the UDC retaining the constituency through Kgosi Lotlaamoreng II following a by-election.
BDP’s attempts to politicize the appointments could have devastating effects on the performance of public enterprises.
There are almost 20 parastatals currently running without substantive chief executive officers or managing directors.
Even in instances where the respective board of directors have identified and endorsed a suitable candidate President Masisi has been seen to be sluggish in confirming their appointment.
A case in point is that of the Botswana Unified Revenue Service top job which has been vacant for a couple of years.
Former Barclays Managing Director Wilfred Mpai’s appointment as BURS Commissioner, The Telegraph has been reliably informed, was all but a foregone conclusion until the matter reached cabinet.
Mpai had ticked all the right boxes and emerged top on the list of suitable candidates. The BURS Board reportedly recommended him to the Minister of Finance as their first choice in mid-2020 but BURS remains without a substantive Commissioner to date. Reasons for the delay, Sunday Standard has learnt, are political.
Marcus ter Haar stepped down as managing director of Okavango Diamond Company (ODC) in November 2020 but the position remains without a substantive MD. It remains anyone’s guess why Ter Haar, former President Ian Khama’s nephew, suddenly decided to step down after just three years at the top. Chief financial officer Lipalesa Makepe took over and as acting MD for ODC.
Debswana Diamond Company has been operating without a substantive managing director since the passing on of Albert Milton in August 2019. Lynnette Armstrong, also Chief Financial Officer, has been acting since 2019. Meanwhile, both the government of Botswana and De Beers are still in discussions about a new deal following the expiry of their previous decade long contract elapsed in 2020.
An extension was agreed by the two parties for an extra year due to covid-19 international travel restrictions. The two parties agreed that logistical challenges from the coronavirus pandemic meant they needed more time to negotiate a contentious new contract.
Meanwhile an announcement has just been made this past week that Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Minerals, a critical party to the negotiations, has been removed from his position.
Morupule Colliery also remains without a substantive general manager following the exit of David Kgoboko who took over as Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) chief executive officer earlier this year.
Botswana Agricultural Marketing Board (BAMB) is also without a CEO following the sacking of Leonard Morakaladi recently.
Botswana Tourism Organization (BTO)’s CEO Myra Sekgororoane also left the company in February this year. There is still no replacement yet.
SPEDU also remains without a chief executive officer following the government’s decision to part ways with Mokubung Mokubung just a month before the end of his contract. Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) is also without a CEO following the departure of Dr. Akolang Tombale in 2018.
Dr Boitumelo Maseko was controversially released from her role as acting CEO in March this year, leaving the company with no CEO. BMC Board Chairman Victor Senye also left his position early this year and he has yet to be replaced.
Other state enterprises without top leadership include Botswana Housing Corporation (BHC), Botswana Bureau of Standards (BOBS), Botswana Railways (BR), Botswana Examinations Council (BEC), Botswana Prisons, Public Enterprises Evaluation and Privatization Agency (PEEPA), and Botswana Institute for Development Policy Analysis (BIDPA) among others.
