The Minister of Trade and Industry, Dorcas Makgato-Malesu, has remained tight lipped as to who will be the founding Chief Executive Officer of the newly established corporation, the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC). Wilhemina Makwinja, a seasoned human resources practitioner and also BITC Care-Taker, stated that the recruitment process for the BITC CEO is on-going, adding that all avenues are currently being exploited to ensure that the right person is appointed to the job.
Makwinja further pointed out that the revised BITC organizational structure has been crafted in the light of competences and staff involvement required to achieve the main goals. She added that the recruitment process to populate the new BITC organizational structure started on September 21 2012.
She stated that management cadre starting from the Chief Operating Officer level will be in place by the end of October.   
“We are fully aware that BITC is under increasing pressure to deliver; we, however, have to ensure that we have the right strategy, action plans and personnel to successfully deliver on the mandate that has been set out for this organization,” said Makwinja.
The BITC Care-Taker revealed that an interim strategic plan has been developed defining BITC’s role, vision, mission working methods and business level strategies. Makwinja added that the brand strategy and identity of the BITC are currently expected to be concluded by November 2012.
“Merging two organizations is not an overnight process and we are on track and the sixth month has been met,” said Makwinja.
Industry sources say Botswana International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) former acting CEO, Letsebe Sejoe, is being eyed to start the job as Chief Operations Officer at BITC.
The BITC top post became vacant after the merger of two parastatals, the Botswana International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) and Botswana Export Development and Investment Authority (BEDIA), which were restructured beginning of April 1st this year offered as one entity.
“The right procedure is to start with the appointment of the CEO and I do not know how the CEO will react if he or she finds whoever as the Chief Operations Officer already on duty,” source said.
Industry sources say that business development strategist, Keletsositse Olebile, former IFSC acting CEO, Letsebe Sejoe, and BEDIA CEO Lamarck Nthekela as well as former Botswana Insurance Holdings Limited (BIHL) Group CEO, Regina Vaka-Sikalesele, were amongst shortlisted applicants for the top post whose names were mentioned for interviews for the top post.
“I really liked that organization and if it was possible, they should have just left that organization the way it was. It is going to take long time for the branding of the organization,” said another source.
Initially the BITC CEO was expected to be appointed in May 2012 and it is dragging to the end of the year. Victor Senye, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Trade and Industry Banny Molosiwa, Esther Kanaimba-Senai, Terence Dambe, Ellen Richard Madisa and Christopher Garland are the task force behind BITC.
“Why should we stay? We are demoralized because there is a clear indication of the preferred candidates and if I stay am I guaranteed to last more than six months or a year,” another source stated.
Another source observed that the longer the process takes, the more the engaged consultancies benefit,” another source pointed out.
