Modubule warns against rewarding political losers

Gothataone Moeng | Friday March 14, 2014 16:51

 

Responding to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs budget proposals in Parliament yesterday, the MP said he has noticed a trend in which candidates who lose, at both primary and general elections, are appointed as diplomats.

He said while he understands that the ministry is not the appointing authority, it should be said to the powers that be that it is improper to reward losers with diplomatic positions when there are other deserving people.

Some of the MPs who lost elections and got diplomatic appointments are Duke Lefhoko, Boometswe Mokgothu, Telebelo Seretse and Jacob Nkate.

Yesterday Modubule raised concerns about some ambassadors who have been stationed in one country for very long. He said he was concerned that a diplomat such as Roy Blackbeard, who heads the Botswana High Commission in the United Kingdom, has been stationed in one place for over 10 years. He was disappointed that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Phandu Skelemani has justified the overstay of Blackbeard as a sign of a good performance.

“In fact one of the embassies that give us a hard time at the [Public Accounting Committee] is the UK commission.  They don’t cooperate with us.  Anyway, if he is performing so well, why shouldn’t he be shifted to take his expertise to other missions?” Modubule, who chairs the PAC, asked.

Meanwhile, Selebi-Phikwe West MP, Gilson Saleshando said he was disappointed that though the Ministry of Foreign Affairs claims to promote and protect human rights, it has consistently neglected to protect the cultural and language rights of Batswana.  

He said as long as people who do not speak Setswana as a first language cannot listen to news in their own language, then their rights are being trampled upon.  Skelemani requested a budget of P48,191,140 for the ministry in the 2014-2015 financial year.