We will appoint BDP members to senior Govt posts � Khama
Sharon Mathala | Friday December 4, 2015 11:44
“In other countries, not so far from ours we see their governments handing top post to their party members. We do not do that here, that is why only in Botswana you find a PS (Permanent Secretary) from an opposition party.
We do not want sabotage or else you will force us to start recruiting BDP members for those top positions,” Khama told a Kgotla meeting in Tsetsebjwe yesterday. He warned that government officials who are members of the opposition parties and are known to sabotage his administration in its mandate to deliver services would be dealt with decisively.
Khama visited the village in the company of ministers Thapelo Olopeng of Youth, Sport and Culture; Tshenolo Mabeo of Transport and Communications; Prince Maele of Lands and Housing; Slumber Tsogwane of Local Government and Rural Development; and Shaw Kgathi Minister of Defence, Justice and Security.
The President told the meeting that, “I am here not only as your president but I am also the president of the ruling party, but when in government I work for the people of this republic and so should public officers.”
He continued, “whether you are belonging to a particular party, be it opposition or the ruling party, that should not come between you and your work.”
Khama’s warning of sabotage from opposition parties comes after questionable decisions by the government not to renew employment contracts of chief executive officers of government parastals. In just under one month contracts of CEOs of Human Resources Development Council and Motor Vehicle Accident Fund were not renewed after allegations of belonging to the opposition.