The President’s choice
Ryder Gabathuse | Monday January 16, 2023 06:00
Cabinet is an advisory body made up of the heads of the Executive departments. Its members solely serve at the pleasure of a sitting president and are mostly the President’s closest confidants.
It is the dream of ruling party legislators to serve in Cabinet and with limited opportunities, the President exercises his constitutional power to appoint 18 Ministers and seven Assistant Ministers.
Journals define a Cabinet as a body of high-ranking state officials, typically consisting of the Executive branch’s top leaders.
It further posits that the function of a Cabinet varies: in some countries, it is a collegiate decision-making body with collective responsibility, while in others it may function either as a purely advisory body or an assisting institution to a decision-making head of State or head of government.
Cabinets are typically the body responsible for the day-to-day management of the government and response to sudden events, whereas the legislative and judicial branches work in a measured pace, in sessions according to lengthy procedures.
Asked what a sitting president normally considers when appointing his Cabinet, an officer at the Office of the President posited that, “In the case of Abraham Lincoln’s Cabinet appointments, meritocracy was a key factor because he needed services of the most ablest men in the pool to help him forge the spirit of nationhood in a country that otherwise was torn apart by the civil war.”
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the Young Turk added: “The same cannot be said about President Masisi’s Cabinet appointments.
Meritocracy will not so much influence his Cabinet appointments. His task is compounded by the fact that the calibre of the pool is suspect.”
Confronted with this dearth of quality, our source indicated that the President is more likely to reward loyalty.
Experience has also shown that he is one President who values loyalty and therefore, the biggest winners will be those who have demonstrated unwavering allegiance to him.
“The need to bridge the North-South divide might also influence his decisions.
With his eyes fixated on the next elections, he would like to unify the party so that the party can compete on a position of strength,” he highlighted.
On who was likely to be the heir apparent, he noted that Tsogwane may not have the charisma that his predecessors had but his strength is total loyalty to his political master.
“But age is not on his side and he may not have what it takes to lead the party in the post Masisi era. He is likely to be dropped in favour of a much more educated, robust and energetic Young Turk,” he mentioned.
Meanwhile, the University of Botswana (UB) politics and administrative studies lecturer Adam Mfundisi emphasised that the President is expected to exercise the prerogative power solo without the direction or influence of any person or body of persons.
He qualified that there are general principles and considerations in exercising this power of appointment to Cabinet dockets. He describes Cabinet as an advisory body to the President in the exercise of Executive authority and power.
Some of the principles that the President considers include, background in terms of academic, professional experience, integrity, excellence and competence. Geographical balance - South and North divide, gender balance and satisfying certain powerful groups in society, patronage and loyalty amongst others.
Explained Mfundisi: “The above, among others do influence and determine the direction the President takes in appointing Cabinet ministers to assist him in the exercise of Executive powers. S/he should balance these factors to design an efficient and effective Cabinet to assist him in delivering public services to the people. “
With regard to the current VP Tsogwane and his future, Mfundisi’s considered view is that the President chooses him with the realisation that he was the President in waiting.
He is of the view that the VP should be a person who has prerequisite knowledge and skills to ascend to the Office of the President.
“When Tsogwane was appointed by the President, there were many questions than answers on the motivation for the appointment.
You must recall that the VP had announced his retirement from active politics. He was not going to stand for a parliamentary office. After the appointment he somersaulted and stood for a parliamentary election, which he won and then ascended to the Office of the VP,” said the UB academic.
There were allegations at the time that Masisi overlooked senior BDP leaders namely Nonofo Molefhi and Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi and opted for VP Tsogwane because, “he was insecure and wanted a weakling to deputise him. And the VP has shown that he was not appointed on merit but political patronage and loyalty to the President,” said Mfundisi.
To him, Tsogwane has failed to display leadership in Parliament even on governance business. Mfundisi feels the President might try to consolidate his power by appointing Peggy Serame who is his favourite.
“She is a reliable loyalist who has made it possible for the President to control the public purse and to advance his interests,” he concluded.