Masisi throws Morupisi under the bus
Staff Writer | Tuesday October 30, 2018 12:01
“In this regard, His Excellency the President, has apologised to the former president for the misunderstanding. The Office of the President would like to inform that, whilst such a decision to withdraw additional support staff from the former president was taken, the decision has since been rescinded whilst consultations with the former president Lt. General Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama are going on,” Elias Magosi the acting Permanent Secretary to the President wrote.
Magosi said the OP would like to assure members of the public that Masisi fully supports the entitlements of Khama in accordance with the provisions of the Presidents (Pensions and Retirement Benefits) Act [CAP.02:03]. “The Former President, amongst other benefits, is entitled to a Private Secretary, a Secretary, an Office Attendant, two Drivers, two Maids and a Gardener, all who were deployed to his Office and Residence since 1st April 2018.”
He said the officers who were withdrawn recently from the office of the former president include a chief catering officer, a senior catering officer, a technical assistant, a senior administration officer and a laundry attendant, who are additional support staff members who were requested by the former president on a temporary basis during the transition period.
Recently the substantive permanent secretary to the President, Carter Morupisi summarily withdrew the six staff members who were deployed at Khama’s office and his official residence. This surprise withdrawal of staff, which Khama said was not communicated to him, was to take effect on Thursday.
Interestingly Khama only discovered early last week that on November 1, he would no longer have government cooks and helpers at his official residence, as they have been all recalled without any replacement. The now dejected former president disclosed to Mmegi that he had initially negotiated with the then incoming president Masisi and Morupisi, in March this year for the staff complement at his [Khama] office and residence and Masisi assured him saying, “You can choose whoever you want”.