Junior Minister at the Office of the President, Thato Kwerepe has denied suggestions that highly ranking public officers have been allowed to campaign for political offices while they are still in office. Without mentioning the culprits by names, Francistown South Member of Parliament (MP) this week posed the question to Kwerepe queering why a selective number of officers have been allowed to campaign while they still hold public office.
“I am not aware of such and if the Honourable Member is aware of such campaigns he knows better what to do…to let know the relevant people who will take action,” said Kwerepe in Parliament during a question and answer session.
Despite his avoidance to mention names, it is widely speculated that Mmolotsi referred to the Permanent Secretary to the President (PSP), Carter Morupisi, Director of Youth at the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture, Lawrence Ookeditse and another former high ranking officer working with the Local Government and Rural Development, Tshephang Mabaila.
It is alleged that the trio are currently campaigning for the political offices despite their positions as civil service servants- a development which the Assistant Minister vehemently denied knowledge of.
Morupisi is associated with Lerala/Maunatlala constituency where he is said to have been engaged in some social safety interventions under the guise of a public service. The development has allegedly caused conflict with the incumbent MP Prince Maele- who is also a member of the ruling party and a cabinet minister.
In Nata/Gweta constituency, Ookeditse is also believed to be giving sleepless nights to the incumbent MP – Polsen Majaga. Majaga has himself admitted in the past that he is aware of the intentions of Ookeditse to oust him as area MP.
Mabaila on the other hand is associated with Mogoditshane where he has built some cemeteries in what is suspected to be an act meant to woo residents and prospective voters to his side.
The trio is associated with the ruling Botswana Democratic Party but has angered both the BDP incumbent and prospective party candidates as well as the opposition alike.