Khama�s cabinet composition a conundrum
Oarabile Mosikare | Tuesday October 28, 2014 17:55
The depth of the talent pool from which Khama has picked his trusted lieutenants in previous years has been slowly dwindling. From an April 2008 cabinet, which featured members such as Daniel Kwelagobe, Margaret Nasha, Gladys Kokorwe, Jacob Nkate, Duke Lefhoko and Samson Moyo Guma, Khama’s cupboard has been getting barer by the day.
On October 21, 2009 Khama unveiled a cabinet with names such as Lesego Motsumi, Kentse Rammidi, Maxwell Motowane and Charles Tibone, who joined veterans from the April 2008 era.
Prior to this weekend’s election – where six members of the pre-poll cabinet lost their parliamentary seats – Khama’s ministerial choices had already been dealt a blow after another six ministers lost the party’s primary elections.
And Khama may have to look outside the group of 37 MPs that he has.
“Ideally, he needs to take from outside Parliament and run the government with technocrats,” posited University of Botswana (UB) political scientist, Professor Emmanuel Botlhale.
He argues Khama will need to consider as foremost, expertise, and eschew appointing on other considerations that may not be in the interest of the country.
Leading the list for Khama’s options for the new cabinet will be its most veteran members (those from 2008) who have been retained in their constituencies.
These include Nonofo Molefhi, Shaw Kgathi, Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi and Guma who could make a return after an inglorious exit in 2011.
Outside this inner circle, Khama will also look to the 18 newly elected BDP legislators. The newbies include medical doctor, Alfred Madigele, prominent lawyer and businessman, Sadique Kebonang, former Francistown mayor, Billy Buti, former military man and businessman, Joseph Molefhe and former BDP National Youth Executive Committee chair, Kefentse Mzwinila.
The list of the BDP’s parliamentary debutants also includes close Khama confidante, Thapelo Olopeng, former BOCONGO chair and pastor-lawyer, Biggie Butale and former BDP secretary general, Thato Kwerepe.
Outside of the veteran inner circle and the new MPs, Khama has crucial, albeit limited, elbow room to appoint four Specially Elected Members of Parliament (MP).
While the architects of the constitution had envisioned that the Specially Elected members would represent issues such as disabled people, women and children affairs, generally this has not been the case.
Instead, critics argue that the provision for four Specially Elected MPs has been abused to accommodate party faction favourites and to also cherry-pick cabinet members by roping in the unelected.
Unbeknownst to many, Khama has a fourth alternative, of which he was previously a beneficiary. Under the constitution, Khama can appoint up to four totally random people to the positions of minister or assistant minister, without that individual being elected or Specially Elected.
The catch, however, is that the tenure is limited to four months.
Given the options above, here below Mmegi takes a stab at what the core of the new cabinet could look like at full and assistant minister level.
Ministry of Finance and Development Planning
Kenneth Matambo (Specially Elected), Samson Moyo Guma, Dorcas Makgato-Malesu, Vincent Seretse, Linah Mohohlo (Specially Elected), and Serwalo Tumelo, although his chances are slim owing to his allegiance to the former president Festus Mogae camp, which does not see eye-to-eye with Khama.
Minister of Defence, Justice, and Security
Ramadeluka Seretse (Specially Elected), Edwin Batshu, Joseph Molefhe, Tebogo Masire
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
Phandu Skelemani (Specially Elected)
Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs
Edwin Batshu
Minister of Trade and Industry
Dorcas Makgato-Malesu, Sadique Kebonang
Minister of Health
Alfred Madigele
Minister of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources
Kitso Mokaila (Specially Elected), Tshekedi Khama; Thapelo Olopeng
Minister of Transport and Communications
Nonofo Molefhi
Minister of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism
Tshekedi Khama, Thapelo Olopeng
Minister of Presidential Affairs and Public Administration:
Shaw Kgathi, Mokgweetsi Masisi, Thapelo Olopeng
Minister of Education and Skills Development
Mokgweetsi Masisi
Other possible appointees are: former High Court Judge Unity Dow, Dr Gloria Somolekae and Peter Siele.
Minister of Agriculture
Christian de Graaff
Minister of Infrastructure, Science and Technology
Samson Guma, a specific technocrat to deal with implementation issues, which have been an embarrassment to his government.