So, why is Finance and Development Planning Minister Kenneth Matambo not resigning his Cabinet position? And what does President Ian Khama really think about the whole thing? If anyone knows, it should be Matambo’s lawyer and Khama’s legal advisor Parks Tafa.
Whenever Khama cocks his pistol, you can be sure that Tafa is not far off. The quick witted attorney is widely believed to be the invisible hand behind most of Khama’s decisions.
Government enclave insiders who have been watching Tafa elbow the Attorney General Athaliah Molokomme out of Khama’s earshot say the decision that Matambo will stay in cabinet despite the corruption charges slapped on him by the Directorate of Public Prosecutions is a result of the reshaping of attitudes at the Office of the President towards the Attorney General Athaliah Molokomme.
Botswana National Front (BNF) spokesperson, Moeti Mohwasa, was quoted in the media this week saying, “Khama asked the former Assistant Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Guma Moyo, to resign because of allegations that he was involved in corrupt activities; why is Matambo treated differently?”
Botswana Congress Party (BCP) secretary general, Dr Kesitegile Gobotswang, also expressed surprise at the manner in which President Khama reshuffles his cabinet; it indicates that he only trusts his friends and relatives. “That’s why Matambo was charged with corruption and is not resigning; Seretse too could be sure that he will return to his Ministry,” he said.
Sources close to the Office of the President, on the other hand, talk of a crisis of confidence between Khama and the Attorney General. Khama allegedly forced former assistant Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Guma Moyo, to resign following advice from the Attorney General’s Chambers. The President was left with an egg on his face when the DPP later turned around and said it did not have sufficient evidence to prosecute the former assistant minister. The damage had been done, and it is understood that Khama never forgave the Attorney Generals Chambers for the blunder.
The President was still smarting from the AG’s goof when the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) served his cousin and Minister of Justice, Defence and Security, Ramadeluka Seretse with a writ of summons detailing corruption charges. It is understood that Khama did not want Seretse to resign from Cabinet, but a lawyer by training, the former minister wanted to clear his name without the encumbrances that would come with his office. As minister of Justice, Defence and Security, he was responsible for the DPP that is prosecuting him and the Botswana Police Service who are major witnesses in the corruption trial.
Seretse’s lawyer happens to be Tafa and he is believed to have advised the president that DPP does not have a case against his cousin. With the DPP struggling to prove his case, there are growing suspicions of bad faith in the decision to prosecute the minister and these have not been lost on the president. Sources close to the Office of the President say Khama’s decision not to appoint a substantive minister of Defence Justice and Security goes a long way towards explaining how he feels about the case and probably what he thinks about his official legal advisor, the Attorney General.
The Member of Parliament for Nkange, Edwin Batshu, has been appointed acting Minister of Defence, Justice and Security. Former Minister of President Affairs and Public Administration, Ms Lesego Motsumi, also acted in the position until she was sent to the Foreign Service. Khama has never appointed a substantive Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, fueling speculation that Dikgakgamatso Seretse may return to the Ministry after his corruption case had ended. Mohwasa claims there are rumours that Seretse will come back to Cabinet after his criminal case ends.
“Khama is not doing anything to disprove what people are saying,” he said.
It is believed that when the DPP pressed charges against Matambo, Khama sought advice from Tafa who told him that the state does not have a case. Khama watchers say this has convinced the president that the Attorney General is working against him and out to rout his cabinet. By not appointing a substantive minister of Defence Justice and Security, the president was sticking his index finger at the Attorney General and letting her know what he thinks of her and the case they have filed against Seretse. The recent decision to keep Matambo in cabinet despite the corruption charges was meant to drive the message home in case the Attorney General missed it in Seretse’s case.
This has touched off speculations that Molokomme is planning to resign her positions. Sources say the Attorney General, who is the principal legal advisor of the state, has lost Khama’s ear. It is understood that she was called to give the government legal advice on how to deal with the unions’ salary demands and her advice to Khama was that the president should say as little as possible about the issue to avoid prejudicing negotiations between the government and the unions.
The president turned up his nose at the advice and instead went on to address Kgotla meetings, telling the public service that no salary increase would be given.
When the union salary demand case went to court, the president again turned to Tafa. Government outsourced legal services to Collins Newman & Co to argue the government’s case against striking essential services workers. Tafa is a senior partner at Collins Newman & Co. Recently, the president appointed former deputy Attorney General, Abraham Keetshabe, to the Office of President (OP) as General Counsel advising the President on legal and political matters. This has diminished the stature of Molokomme’s office who is designated by the Constitution as the President’s principal legal advisor.
Keetshabe’s new position attracts an F1 salary scale, almost equivalent to the job grading of the Attorney General. This means that Molokomme and her former deputy are now on the same salary scale; in other words, their jobs are almost the same, not least because Keetshabe now effectively functions like President Khama’s in-house lawyer.
