The Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Kenneth Matambo, has said there is no truth in media speculation that he has quit his job.
Speaking to The Telegraph from Cape Town, where together with the Governor of the Bank of Botswana, Linah Mohohlo, he was attending the annual World Economic Forum, Matambo said he had no idea what was at the root of reports that he had resigned.
“As I’m talking to you now, I am in Cape Town attending the World Economic Forum in my official capacity as Minister of Finance and Development Planning, representing the Government of Botswana,” said Matambo.
He reiterated he was not aware of any reasons that might have raised speculation about him leaving Government.
Speculation has been rife that at least two ministers were about to resign from cabinet.
There has also been mention that a former Managing Director of Debswana, Blackie Marole, was likely to take over as Minister of Finance and Development Planning.
But Matambo’s assertion that he remains a minister and has no intention of resigning anytime soon puts paid to speculation that has been doing rounds that President Ian Khama’s Government could crumble if any more of its members resigned for whatever reasons.
A former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, who later went on to become Managing Director of Government’s investment wing, Botswana Development Corporation, Matambo is seen as a stabilizing pair of hands in a cabinet that has been weakened by a departure of key and experienced ministers like former Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Ndelu Seretse, who is currently fighting a single count of corruption in the courts.
