Molapise’s appointment sparks political furore
Staff Writers | Monday October 13, 2025 06:37
Molapise joins hordes of advisors already in the government employ, including the Attorney General, Presidential legal advisor, Chief of Staff, Presidential advisor-projects, Permanent Secretary to the President, and many others.
Botswana’s contracting economy, due to low global interest in the country's diamonds, has seen the economy slow down painfully, frustrating the national development activities. Despite this reality, the Boko-led administration has been creating lucrative positions for its cadres, to the chagrin of many. The situation is compounded by a concerning unemployment rate of about 27.6 % whilst the youth unemployment rate stands at an estimated 43.86 %.
At 81 years, Molapise, who retired from the Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC) in Francistown years ago, does not fit in the public service with a general retirement age set at 60 years, although the explanation from the government enclave is that he is a consultant. Political commentators are also concerned that Molapise has been appointed to a senior position as the President’s advisor whilst serving as a politician at both the BPP and UDC, which sounds a bit awkward as the public service employment is an apolitical scene.
It’s perhaps the secrecy around the Madinare-born politician’s appointment that this particular appointment has come under sharp scrutiny. Molapise also serves as chairperson of the ruling Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC). Amongst the three presidents of the tripartite parties contracted to the ruling UDC, he has been the only one without a paying job in the UDC government before his latest reward.
Besides being the president of the primary party, Botswana National Front (BNF), Boko is the UDC and State President. State Vice President and vice president of the UDC, Ndaba Gaolathe, also dabbles as Alliance for Progressives (AP) president. Therefore, Molapise’s appointment completes the tri-party leaders’ inclusion in the public service payroll.
Molapise is the longest serving president of the Botswana Peoples Party (BPP), who in 2021 hinted at stepping down but later reneged on his decision.
Speaking to Molapise this week, he promised to return a call, but never picked up subsequent calls. He could not confirm or deny his recent appointment.
Press Secretary to the President, Emang Mutapati, Wednesday this week confirmed that “Molapise is a public servant”. She, however, could not provide the finer details of the 81-year-old’s employment, as the requisite information was sketchy. In a press statement issued later, the Office of the President explained that historically, such appointments have been made at various times and under different titles, depending on the needs of the Presidency.
'Molapise is retained solely to strengthen the President's delivery capacity and ensure responsive governance. To achieve the vision of a New Botswana, as outlined by the UDC, the country must deepen good governance, maintain political stability, and uphold the rule of law. Molapise brings extensive political experience and institutional knowledge, making him well-suited to support government in advancing these priorities,' reads a statement from the OP.
'It is important to note that all civil servants appointed under the Public Service Act are required to remain apolitical. For this reason, political advisory services are provided through consultancy arrangements, not through the civil service. Molapise has therefore been engaged as a consultant, at a cost significantly lower than that of a full-time internal advisor.'
Speaking to economist, Sennye Obuseng, about Molapise’s appointment, he told Mmegi in a written response: “I have long heard about Molapise being appointed an advisor to the President at F0 salary scale but never believed it until it was confirmed a few days back.”
To him, “it just does not make sense.” “Molapise is simply not qualified to serve at the FO scale. He does not have the capacity - qualifications, experience, and the basic competencies necessary to serve in the public service at the F0 scale.”
At 81, Obuseng explains that Molapise is two decades past the retirement age for the public service.
“From what we see and have heard from the UDC executive secretary, the terms of his employment are so nebulous that he does not need to work to earn his salary. Indeed, it does seem like he does not. It will take a willing suspension of disbelief to accept that there is merit to this appointment,” he said. Obuseng also observed that those who justify the appointment based on his role in the UDC or coalition imperatives are totally misguided.
“There are political positions for that. In the public service, people are hired based on job profiles they match,” he further explained.
Meanwhile, a Gaborone-based private attorney, Tebogo Sebego, this week wrote an opinion piece carried by a local online publication on the state of the UDC government priorities by far.
“As we approach the one-year mark of the UDC's governance, I find myself compelled to reflect on the path we have traversed and the challenges that lie ahead. It is essential to acknowledge two critical issues that I raised during our transition into leadership,” Sebego said.
“Firstly, we must remember that our time in office is not an opportunity for indulgence (it's not our time to EAT); it is a sacred mandate to serve the people who entrusted us with their hopes and aspirations.’
Secondly, Sebego wrote: “We must confront the uncomfortable truth that those who were complicit in the corruption of the first republic cannot be the architects of our redemption in the second republic.”
A grounded BNF cadre, Sebego stressed that with only 36 months left to effect meaningful change, as the upcoming election year will largely be consumed by campaigning, “it is imperative that we engage in honest and open dialogues about our progress. I must confess that, from my perspective, the clarity of our achievements remains elusive. There seems to be a pervasive reluctance to entertain criticism and self-reflection, which stifles our growth and accountability.”
Responding to Molapise’s recent appointment, Botswana Congress Party (BCP) spokesperson, Mphp Pheko, said the appointment of the BPP president and UDC chairperson as an advisor to the State President at the F0 scale is bad at many levels.
“In the first instance, it is based on a lie. Molapise is not providing any advice to the President in the service of Botswana. Certainly not, at the F0 level. He does not have the capacity to perform at that level. He earns close to P100,000 a month while he sits at home,” Pheko declared worriedly.
She said, secondly, “It is pure political corruption. President Boko is using scarce public resources insensitively to reward a political crony, period. Molapise is the unquestioning loyalist who facilitated Boko's dictatorship at UDC, ensuring that UDC never adopted its constitution and never had an elective congress “.
She regards the appointment as yet another demonstration of the contempt Boko has for Botswana's institutions, processes, and Batswana themselves.
“This appointment violates all the principles and requirements for employment in the public service in terms of the Constitution and the Public Service Act. The President has abused Section 112 of the Constitution and Section 12 of the Public Service Act to put a demonstrably unfit person at the top of the public service pay scale,” she observed.
“The powers conferred on the President under the Constitution and the PSA were never meant to be exercised this irrationally. At a minimum, if he must reward a crony, he must ensure that the crony meets the basic qualification requirements for the position, “ she added.
Finally, she considers the appointment a slap across the face of public servants, who know the toil of working for a promotion and a good-paying position in the public service.
“It is also a slap across the face for the many unemployed young people, 35 out of every 100, who are jobless. They do not earn the unemployment benefit they were promised, but an 81-year-old crony of the President earns P100,000 of public money every month, sitting at home.”
Pheko emphasised that they are disappointed that many supposedly intelligent people argue that Molapise's role in the UDC justifies this appointment. The BCP, she said, rejects that with contempt.
“Molapise's role in UDC has nothing to do with the performance of duties in the public service at the F0 level. This is corruption. It is shameful. Batswana must rise and withdraw the licence they have given to the President and his cronies to scam them,” decried Pheko.
UDC CEO, Dr Patrick Molutsi, explained in a radio interview this week that Molapise is on the government payroll and disputed reports that Molapise was getting paid whilst he was just home.
Despite Molutsi’s position, the government has been making public announcements of new appointments. Molapise has been on the government payroll for some time now, Mmegi has been informed. It’s the secrecy around Molapise’s employment that has openly set tongues wagging about the UDC government employing of its cronies.