Gov't must guard against cadre deployment

The Monitor Editor | Wednesday October 28, 2026 06:00

As the Botswana National Front (BNF) discusses a policy to place suitably qualified members in strategic positions, the guiding consideration should remain whether an individual is the best person to serve the country. There is nothing wrong with qualified party members applying for public positions. Political affiliation should neither disqualify a capable candidate nor give them an advantage over others. Every Motswana deserves a fair opportunity to compete on the strength of their qualifications, experience, and ability to deliver.

President Duma Boko’s insistence that competence must take precedence over party loyalty is therefore welcome. His defence of retaining capable individuals associated with the previous governing party sends an important message. The country cannot afford to discard experience and institutional memory simply because an individual wears a different political colour. The same principle must apply when considering members of the governing parties. Their suitability should be established through a credible selection process, with clear requirements and consistent standards. Holding the required qualifications is a starting point; appointments must also consider experience, integrity, and a record of performance. There is another consideration the BNF must approach carefully. The Umbrella for Democratic Change is a coalition bringing together different political formations, and whilst the BNF is entitled to debate its own policies, it cannot alone determine an approach to appointments across a government formed through that broader partnership.

Any proposal affecting the administration of government requires consultation amongst coalition partners and must respect the institutions and procedures governing public employment. Otherwise, an internal party initiative risks creating competing expectations about whose members should receive consideration. Public recruitment should not become a negotiation over how positions are shared amongst parties. That would leave equally capable citizens outside those formations at a disadvantage and place unnecessary pressure on those responsible for hiring.

The more useful discussion is how government can attract skilled people, retain competent officials and address poor performance fairly. Transparent recruitment, clear performance targets and regular assessments would help achieve these objectives. They would also give successful candidates the confidence that their appointments rest on ability. At a time when the country needs stronger service delivery and careful management of public resources, appointments carry considerable responsibility. Hospitals, schools, councils, and public enterprises require people who understand their work and can deliver results. The BNF’s policy discussions present an opportunity to affirm these standards.

Coalition partners should equally support an approach that gives competence priority and protects recruitment from political pressure. Botswana’s pool of talent extends across political parties and beyond them. Government should draw from that entire pool. What matters most is the quality of service an appointee provides to the public, regardless of party colour. 'It clearly could not be justified for a party to use its internal 'recommendation' of a candidate for office as a means of placing political pressure on and distorting the objective statutory process of selection and appointment to that office in the state,' Justice Raymond Zondo said.