Speculation is rife that former Education minister, Jacob Nkate, is reported to be on his way out as the Chief Executive Officer of the Botswana Export Development and Investment Authority (BEDIA).
Reports that Nkate would quit emerged last week after it emerged that the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) had indicated that it would hold primary elections early in opposition held constituencies.
Nkate, who hails from the Ngami constituency, is expected to try his luck in a constituency he lost to opposition in the last General election.
Nkate lost the Ngami constituency to Taolo Habano in 2009. If he is vetted in, he is likely to wrestle it out with Thato Kwerepe, a member of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) central committee.
BDP insiders have revealed that the former BDP Secretary General yearns for a return to frontline politics and badly wants out of BEDIA.
Contacted by this newspaper, Nkate opted to defer his response on his political future.
In an interview with The Telegraph on Monday, Nkate could not confirm or deny reports that he was about to quit BEDIA but, instead, proposed to address the report at a later date.
“I am not ready to disclose anything, I will let you know when I am ready to speak,” he said.
He stressed that for the time being he is still a BEDIA employee.
“There is a lot of speculation about my future both in politics, at the constituency and other BDP quarters, if the situation should change I will let you know,” said Nkate.
