The Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC) have ushered in Meshack Tshekedi to the top position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The appointment is on interim basis and follows the sudden departure of the former CEO Letsebe Sejoe on Tuesday.
Sejoe left the CBD based company after the board of directors of BITC opted not to renew his three year contract which has come to an end on 28 February 2017. It is not clear why Sejoe was not shown the door but conspiracy theories are rife that although he was a favourate of the board, the political masters overseeing BITC did not have him in their good books. As a result, it is said that a few recent mishaps that happened under Sejoe’s watch were used as the main reasons not to renew his three year contract.
Key amongst them is said to be the recent allegations that part of the BITC management team was using the company’s credits card while they also enjoyed entertainment allowances. The issue first became public at the meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Statutory Bodies and Enterprises where Sejoe was appearing before the committee. At the time, the committee chairman Guma Moyo viewed the arrangement as close to a fraudulent activity. The committee then indicated that it will investigate the matter further. The outcome of the committee’s investigations is yet to be known and likely not to be made public.
This week, sources close to both BITC and Sejoe indicated that he has been shown the door primarily due to his reluctance to join the ruling party.
“Their worry was that he couldn’t jump when they said he should”.
The source alleged that even at the time of his appointment as a substantive CEO a few years ago, the political masters had taken its time to approve his elevation from his then position of Chief Operational Officer to that of substantive CEO. It took more than two years to have Sejoe appointed as the ultimate heir of the BITC top job.
This week, the BITC Board Chairperson Victor Senye confirmed Sejoe’s end of three year contract of employment with effected February 28, 2017.
“The board appoints Meshack Tshekedi as acting Chief Executive and recognise and express gratitude for Sejoe’ s selfless commitment and contribution towards delivery of the organisation’s mandate since its inception in April 2012,” Senye stated.
As an integrated investment promotion authority (IPA), BITC serves as a focal point for investment promotion, export development and nation branding. Sejoe told Sunday Standard this past week that together with his team they achieved investment levels of P3.2 billion in total capital investment in the past three years.
Meanwhile this publication has been informed that a few more top managers of BITC are also facing possible exit following the pending expiry of their contracts.
