The Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) is struggling to attract local candidates for the position of chief executive officer. Sunday Standard has established the BPC has since re-advertised the position of CEO while former board member Seb Sebetlela is tipped as one of the candidates who had shown interest. Sebetlela is said to be one in pole position to take the position of CEO if things goes according to plan. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Minerals Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security, Mmetla Masire confirmed Sebetlela has submitted his application for the position of CEO. Masire said since they have worked together in different forums, he called to inquire from him if he has seen a post from BPC and the answer was clear that he has submitted his application.
“What I can tell you is that the Minister is the appointing authority for the position of CEO and Board Chairperson. The Board is responsible for recommending the best candidate and the Minister has the power to accept or reject the candidate,” said Masire. A source within the BPC has revealed that the Ministry is still wondering why the appointment of acting CEO is not localized and want the Board to speed up the process of recruitment.
The BPC board chairman Bonny Thebenyane has confirmed to this publication that the BPC will soon announce its new CEO.“It is true that soon, if things go according to our wishes, BPC board will be in a better position to pronounce the new CEO. The intention is for the position to be filled by a competent local citizen. At the moment I cannot divulge if we have non-citizens who had shown interest in the position.In a previous interview with this publication Thebenyane dismissed allegations that suggested the BPC is in a crisis which led to some of its executive members quitting the corporation.“There is no crisis at the BPC therefore once the new CEO is appointed all managerial positions will be filled by the CEO upon recommendation,” he said.Last year Dr Stefan Schwarzfischer left the BPC as CEO following allegations of corruption that rocked the corporation and Cross Kgosietsile took over on acting capacity before handing over to the current acting CEO.
