Perhaps his departure might be interpreted as an indication of his indignation at the ineffectual purpose of the office, established from scratch only about 10 years ago. Maine listened to Botswana Congress Party complaints about alleged abuses of Botswana Defence Force facilities - including aircraft - by Vice President, Ian Khama.

He found that Khama was using public property outside of the understood rules of government and earned the wrath of President Festus Mogae, who claimed that he had legal authority to permit the Vice President to use BDF aircraft as he willed.

Maine made a report to Parliament but the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) dominated legislature failed to take action. His successor, Lepodise holds no glaring reputation as a private practitioner and his independence will be put to the full test not just by the opposition but by the rising number of complaints of corruption and abuse of office in the 'white collar' sections of the civil service.

The skills and experience he acquired under the tutorship of Maine will stand him in good stead as he manoeuvres the demands of the office to leave a legacy that, in the end, must be larger and more visible than that of his predecessor.

In other appointments, deputy Permanent Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Works and Transport Gabaake Gabaake, replaces Sam Rathedi as PS at Local Government. Rathedi had acquired a wealth of experience in administration and at the Office of the President, he cultivated a leadership style that endeared him even to the Botswana Unified Local Government Service.

His successor is a new book to the unions that still have outstanding issues related to parallel progression. Rathedi had developed a rapport with the unionists that Gabaake will find a challenge to emulate without inviting the wrath of cabinet.

Even though the Permanent Secretary at Environment, Wildlife and Tourism will be immediately answerable on questions related to the controversial relocation of the Basarwa out of the Central Kgalagadi Game Reserve, Gabaake knows that the issue is mainly one of land use.

James Masisi, appointed chief negotiator at the trade ministry, falls easily in the group of government economists - among them Blackie Marole, Serwalo Tumelo and Nelson Mokgethi - who would have been in the running for Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Finance after the departure of Baledzi Gaolathe and Kenneth Matambo, had he not gone to foreign affairs.

His posting at the European Community headquarters in Brussels, then at the hub of the tiger economies of East Asia and regional giant South Africa gives him a large repertoire of tricks as chief negotiator.

One of his most challenging tasks will be to put Botswana at the centre of the global quest for a knowledge based economy, which also relies on acquiring the highest competences in information and communication technology. Masisi's familiarity with the workings of the World Trade Organisation, continental and regional economic formation, will be a great help.

However, the art and craft of negotiation in the 21st century is relatively new to Botswana, and he will need all the support he can get from the politicians and colleagues in the civil service.

In other appointments and redeployments Thato Raphaka has been made deputy Permanent Secretary at Ministry of Local Government where he has been the director of management. Former Director for Economic Affairs in the Ministry of Finance, Kelapile Ndobano, has been elevated to deputy PS in the same ministry. Carter Morupisi is now deputy PS at Ministry of Agriculture where he was previously director of management. Deputy PS at the Ministry of Local Government K.A. Selotlegeng has been shifted to the Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism in the same capacity. Kelapile Ndobano has been promoted from director for Economic Affairs to deputy PS for Economic Affairs in the Ministry of Finance.