Four years of Masisi’s sharp-axe
Thalefang Charles | Monday April 4, 2022 09:27
President Mokgweetsi Masisi was widely expected to maintain the status quo and continue with his predecessor’s civil service.
This was mainly because former president, Ian Khama’s presidency did not go through the lame-duck phase, where Masisi was able to hint his upcoming plans.
Even during his last hours at the Office of the President, Khama was still wielding so much power over the Government Enclave while Masisi appeared aloof. Masisi kept his plans so secret that many thought he did not have any.
He was seen to be coming in only as a caretaker president who would be controlled remotely by his powerful predecessor.
But as it turned out, Masisi enveloped everyone into a smokescreen and successfully concealed his intentions until it was too late – when he was President.
The new President then unleashed an unexpected disruptive plan that dismantled his predecessor’s top civil servants and replaced them with the new faces.
The wrath of Masisi’s sharp axe first landed at the unlikely victim.
Ex-director general, DIS: Isaac Kgosi
Widely believed to be untouchable, director general of the Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS), Isaac Kgosi received the first shock chop. This was exactly a month into his administration, and it sent shockwaves through the entire Government Enclave. Masisi only provided reasons for Kgosi’s chop five months later while he was visiting Oxford University, England. He said: “Yes, I can confirm. I did fire the Director General of the Intelligence Agency, for good reasons. It was really out of my interpretations of what improved governance meant. So, I asked him to leave immediately. And I guess it was not expected, many people did not think so. Many people perceived him as extremely powerful and intimidating. Not for me. I asked him to go. He is gone”.
Gov’t spokesperson: Jeff Ramsay, Andrew Sesinyi, Thomas Dipowe
After assuming state power, Masisi removed the long serving government spokesperson, Dr Jeff Ramsay and sent him to the Botswana Public Service College - notorious for being a dumpsite for unwanted government directors. Ramsay was replaced by the less maverick Joe-Thomas Dipowe. As a new government spokesperson, Dipowe did not embrace new media. Unlike his predecessor, he did not even have a Facebook account or WhatsApp. Dipowe went back to the traditional media as the preferred government communications platform. He used Radio Botswana to break news from Office of the President like Cabinet reshuffles. It was not long before Dipowe was effectively demoted and replaced with an old maverick that is, Andrew Sesinyi from Bank of Botswana. Sesinyi has since left after serving for about three years and the reserved Dipowe is back acting as government spokesperson.
Ex-PSP: Carter Morupisi
Perhaps his was the most dramatic fall from grace. Permanent Secretary to the President (PSP), Carter Morupisi was suspended from office in September 2019, after he was accused and charged with three charges of corruption - abuse of office, receiving bribery and money laundering, in connection with the misappropriation of about P500 million from the Botswana Public Officers Pension Fund (BPOPF). The former senior civil servant spent some minutes at Maximum Prison before appearing chained in leg irons at the Gaborone High Court. His position was filled by Elias Magosi and served until Masisi spirited campaign to get him a SADC Executive Secretary post succeeded. Magosi was succeeded by Emma Peloetletse, who made history as the first woman to be appointed in the position.
Ruth Maphorisa, Ex-PS & DPSM
Ruth Maphorisa was removed from the plump post of the Director of the Directorate of Public Service Management (DPSM) and sent to Ministry of Health and Wellness as Permanent Secretary and later to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing Development. Barely new at the Infrastructure ministry, she met her untimely exit from the civil service. No reasons were advanced for her dismissal.
PS Health, Sekwakwa & Ebineng
When all the attention and funds were going to the Ministry of Health and Wellness during the early days of COVID-19 pandemic, Masisi swiftly wielded his axe at the ministry and fired its Permanent Secretary, Solomon Sekwakwa. It was a shocking dismissal because the ministry was in the middle of war against an invincible enemy and the PS, seen as the frontline general, was sacked without any reasons given to the public. Kabelo Ebineng replaced Sekwakwa and led the ministry through the COVID-19 storm until he was also unceremoniously chopped off and replaced by Grace Muzila.
DCEC: Bruno Paledi, Joseph Mathambo
Former senior police officer, Bruno Paledi was removed as director general of the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) and transferred to the Ministry of Defence Justice and Security as the new Secretary for Defence and Security. He was replaced by a soldier, straight from Mogoditshane barracks, Brigadier Joseph Mathambo. Mathambo was described as a “no-nonsense army man with a strong personality” and there were predictions that he would build and maintain strong relationships with the Military Intelligence and the DIS. Mathambo was redeployed back to the BDF after the P100 billion saga and replaced by Tymon Katlholo on his second stint in the job.
Ex-director of Public Health: Malaki Tshipayagae, Malebogo Kebabonye
Before COVID-19, the power of the director of Public Health position was not widely known. The pandemic brought so much spotlight and pressure on the incumbent that Dr Malaki Tshipayagae finally exited and was replaced by Dr Malebogo Kebabonye. The latter would soon get entangled into some unpopular decisions and was fired and replaced by Dr Pamela Smith-Lawrence, who is currently acting.
Ex-PS Education: Bridget John
After reports that she was assisting the DIS with some investigations, Bridget John was also recently fired from her position as PS in the ministry of Basic Education.
Police Commissioner: Makgophe
In March 2019, Police Commissioner Keabetswe Makgophe’s suspension was leaked to the media, but it was quickly reversed. Three years later, few days ago, the top cop was unceremoniously arrested by the DIS and spent some time at the notorious DIS Sebele cells before being suspended, for real this time.
Ex-Prisons Commissioner: Silas Motlalekgosi
The late Prisons Commissioner, Silas Motlalekgosi was dismissed last year February after occupying the position for 13 years. Speculation was rife that he was involved in a tender dispute. But former president Ian Khama, who is fighting with his successor, claims that he was fired and killed for not taking orders to assassinate him.
Cabinet drops
BDP’s backbench in Parliament has a former High Court judge, an academic doctor and successful businessmen, all of whom are reported to have fell out with President Masisi and were dropped from the Executive.
Venson Moitoi
Masisi’s first Cabinet firing was before 2019 general elections when he ‘dropped’ Venson-Moitoi from the position of Minister of Local Government and Rural Development with immediate effect. That happened after Venson-Moitoi challenged Masisi for the party presidency.
Thapelo Matsheka
Dr Thapelo Matsheka was hailed as a breath of fresh air when he was appointed Finance Minister after the general elections. But along the way, Matsheka fell out with the President and was dropped from Cabinet. Peggy Serame has since replaced him as the first woman Finance Minister in Botswana.
Mpho Balopi
Before the elections, Mpho Balopi was the kingmaker who fought aggressively for Masisi. He was widely tipped to be a senior minister and even Vice President. He was however given a ministry far from Office of the President, as Minister of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Development. And just like former Finance Minister, Balopi fell out with Masisi and his fate was sealed.
Unity Dow
The sacking of the former High Court judge, Unity Dow as the Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation was so shocking that many thought she was only meant for a new fitting redeployment. But as it is the norm with Cabinet reshuffles, when Masisi’s shaper axe was done with Dow, it was never explained why an experienced minister and former judge would be relegated to the backbench.