The Ministry of Health high command, including two deputy Permanent Secretaries, scores of directors and assistant directors have resigned en masse in protest against the appointment of Newman Kahiya as Permanent Secretary.
The Ministry’s long time Permanent Secretary, Batatu Tafa, tendered her resignation earlier this year. This opened the flood gates for the en masse resignation of the ministry’s high command.
Among those who have tendered their resignations are: the Deputy Permanent Secretary, Matsae Balosang, who vacated her office on June 30th; Dr Majane, another Deputy Permanent Secretary, who will vacate his office next week; Napo Ndibi, Director of Ministry Management, who resigned on June 30th; Dr Mompati Mmalane, Director Clinical Services, who is serving notice; Assistant Director G Mosarwe; Assistant Director Ministry Management O. S Modise and Assistant Director Mojela, who asked to be transferred to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Public Relations Officer in the Ministry of Health, Colombia Boitshoko, would not comment on the mass resignations.
Sunday Standard, however, has been informed that the Ministry’s senior managers tendered their resignations in protest against the appointment of Newman Kahiya as permanent secretary.
It is understood that the former Minister of Health, Sheila Tlou, also warned the Directorate of Public Service Management that the ministry’s high command had threatened to resign if Kahiya were appointed to replace Tafa.
The ministry has been battling to live up to its assignment, managing to spend only 30 percent of the money it had requested for developments during the 2006/2007 budget.
The situation is expected to get worse before it gets better with the ministry having lost its minister, Permanent Secretary, two deputy permanent secretaries, scores of directors and deputy directors in the past three months.