Wilfred Mpai who was set to become Commissioner General at BURS (Botswana Unified Revenue Service) will have to wait much longer to know his fate.
Cabinet is divided over Mpai’s proposed appointment as BURS Commissioner General.
While the BURS line ministry, which is the ministry of Finance and Economic Planning would have wanted to go ahead and appoint Mpai, new questions have emerged that might put paid to his appointment.
While ministries are supposed to bring names to cabinet for consideration, ultimately, the president has the final say on who can be appointed.
In the past it has been rare for a president to unilaterally rule out a name, unless so advised by his intelligence officers.
The post of Commissioner General, one of the most important and powerful ones in the economy of Botswana has had to be re-advertised a number of times.
BURS collects billions in taxes and customs revenue on behalf of government, ultimately being the second most important revenue authority after Debswana that mines most of Botswana’s diamonds.
Sunday Standard has leant that Mpai has so far passed a mandatory security vetting.
But questions abound about his past.
Some members of cabinet are asking difficult and pointed questions on why for example Mpai left Barclays Bank Botswana where he was Managing Director.
Segolo Lekau has been Acting Commissioner General for over two years now, and it has remained a mystery why he has not been appointed.
A chartered accountant by training Mpai has previously worked at Debswana. He was Managing Director at Barclays Bank Botswana, a position he left under abruptly and under a cloud.
He has also been a board member at Choppies Limited.
