Masisi mourns losing Cabinet colleagues
Ryder Gabathuse | Tuesday September 11, 2018 11:18
Giving a keynote address at the 15th National Business Conference (NBC) Masisi could not hide it that he was “mourning with some of my Cabinet colleagues who have lost in the party’s Bulela Ditswe primary elections”.
It was just after the President had settled at the Adansonia Hotel, the venue of the premier conference, and had hardly finished introducing some of his Cabinet colleagues that he started his debate that has since gone viral on social media.
Masisi started on a low and quickly gained momentum in a debate that might quickly spark controversy within the BDP and beyond. He literally deviated from his talking notes.
For a moment he paused as if he was gathering some air after introducing some of his Cabinet Ministers before he blasted: “Democracy has a tendency of deciding before time to change the fortunes of others”.
But, what seemed to set the conference hall at Adansonia alight was when Masisi stated a fact: “I don’t think I intended to come with only state ministers who failed to make it in the recent Bulela Ditswe primary elections”.
Vincent Seretse, Kefentse Mzwinila, Patrick Ralotsia, Ngaka Ngaka have lost their bids for re-election in the recent party primaries. They were part of Masisi’s entourage at the NBC.
Also present were also ministers Eric Molale and Bogolo Kenewendo who were not affected by the recent Bulela Ditswe cruelty.
Masisi would then reiterate that the losers remained ministers in good standing and were indeed hard workers and he was willing to continue with them.
Later during the question and answer session dubbed conversations with the President, Masisi would revisit the seemingly contentious issue of his Cabinet members who have lost in Bulela Ditswe primaries.
“As President, I cannot but take note of the obliteration of my Cabinet at the primary elections. Some of those who beat them cannot match them,” Masisi declared frustratingly responding to questions from the conference.
“But, democracy allows them to partake and leaves me with no choice but to do with those whose caliber is lower than the losers.”
He explained that the qualifications of winning an election in a political contest are not equivalent to the qualifications you need in government.
Masisi was adamant that the latest developments might be subtly saying, “It’s time to look at the provision of such constitution. There must be something out of this discourse. I am determined to go out and have this debate”.
Masisi would describe his losing Cabinet colleagues as loyal individuals who have served the country selflessly and competently.
He stressed that accountability is paramount including political accountability, which he said provides for stability.
“That’s why I have been mourning for my colleagues that we will soon be parting ways. Some are saying I should part ways with the losing Cabinet members now for fear that some of them might commit criminal offences,” he noted and indicated that he was not going to fire them.
“Anyway, if anyone of them could commit a crime, I will exit them, otherwise they will remain to finish their national duty as we have worked together as a team.”