Is Makgalemele Angling For Kgathi's Job?

BAME PIET
Staff Writer | Monday December 7, 2009 00:00

Makgalemele was once a footballer and has wide experience in sport management. He has headed the Botswana National Youth Council (BNYC) and worked at senior positions in the corporate world. With all the experience, he probably pictured himself enjoying all the perks that come with the ministerial office including globe-trotting with the President. Not only that, Makgalemele could have figured himself turning the ministry around and calling the shots - telling football bosses what to do. But things did not turn out the way many thought when President Ian Khama named the cabinet after general elections last October.

Makgalemele is no-where near that ministerial seat - at least for the moment. Former director of sport, Shaw Kgathi, got the ministry that many thought would be given to the ex-BFA boss. But is this is giving Makgalemele sleepless nights? Has he made it his mission not to rest until he achieves what he saw in many of his dreams?

Since Parliament started its sittings three weeks ago, Makgalemele seems to be trying so hard to prove himself as the right person to head the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture.  Out of the over 30 questions he has asked so far, 10 of them have been directed at the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture. Is this a coincidence? Is it because he is a prominent sports personality or is he trying to expose Kgathi?

In the questions, Makgalemele tried so hard to prove that he has enough, if not all information on the policies of the ministry. In some instances, the MP asked very long questions that required three to four-page answers.On Friday, he tabled a motion requesting government to undertake a tracer study of out-of-school youth in Botswana, so as to be more informed of their plight. Whether it was by coincidence or conspiracy, Parliament resolved that the ministry responsible for the motion should be that of Youth, Sports and Culture. The MP struggled to make his case understood by everybody.

He tried in vain to explain that the objective of the motion was to trace all out of school youth and see what they are doing. It was clear during his poorly researched presentation that his colleagues were definitely going to reject it. From time to time, fellow MPs interrupted him trying to understand what he really wanted government to do.

At some point the MP for Lobatse, Nehemiah Modubule, probably after thorough consultation with Makgalemele outside Parliament, tried to move for an amendment to the motion but this was totally rejected. The MPs argued that the amendment was going to kill the essence of the motion.

The refusal to amend the motion left Makgalemele with nothing but to face Youth Sports and Culture Minister, Kgathi who replied that there are many mechanisms in place to keep tabs on the out of school youth. Parliament debated the motion until the afternoon when it adjourned for the weekend break.