UDC must tread carefully

Mmegi Editor | Monday October 13, 2025 06:00

Yet, the controversial appointment of 81-year-old Motlatsi Molapise as a special advisor to the President threatens to shatter that promise entirely. This is a glaring example of the very cronyism the UDC vowed to eliminate, and it signals a dangerous departure from the principles of good governance, where leaders seem to be keen to share the spoils amongst themselves.

Consider the timing. Botswana’s economy is contracting. Our nation’s development is frustrated by low global demand for diamonds, a key resource. The unemployment rate is a crisis, with over a quarter of Batswana and nearly half of our youth without work. In this climate of national sacrifice, the creation of a new, highly-paid position for a party loyalist is profoundly insensitive. It tells struggling citizens that the government’s priorities are not with them, but with rewarding its own inner circle. How can a government justify spending an estimated P100,000 per month of public money on this role when so many are suffering?

The details of the appointment itself are equally alarming. At 81, Molapise is two decades past the official public service retirement age of 60. Economists and political commentators have openly questioned his qualifications for a senior role at the permanent secretary level. The core principle of the public service is that appointments must be based on merit, experience, and competency, not political connections. This appointment makes a mockery of that principle, devaluing the hard work of every qualified public servant who earned their position.

Furthermore, the shroud of secrecy around this appointment is unacceptable. The President’s office has been evasive, failing to provide clear details about Molapise’s job description, responsibilities, or qualifications. This lack of transparency breeds public suspicion and undermines trust. If this was a legitimate appointment made in the national interest, why is the government so reluctant to be open about it?

The UDC must understand that this decision is seen as political corruption. It completes a pattern where the leaders of all three parties in the UDC coalition are now on the government payroll, blurring the line between party and state. This is not the new Botswana the people voted for. It is the old way, dressed in new colours.

We issue a clear warning to the UDC government to reverse this decision. Uphold the Public Service Act, which demands that appointments be based on merit. Recommit to the transparency you promised. The trust of Batswana is your most valuable asset, and it is being squandered. Do not betray the mandate you were given. The people are watching, and they will not forget.

“Power tends to corrupt andabsolute power corrupts absolutely.”– Lord Acton