Were they pushed out?

GREG KELBONYE
Staff Writer | Tuesday February 23, 2010 00:00

 

The past week for example has seen the retirement of the Director of Public Service Management (DPSM) Pearl Matome. A high flier, who rejoined the public service from the private sector a few years back, Matome had been  the DPSM for just over one year. That makes her term as DPSM one of the shortest ever served by someone in that position. Curiously Matome's 'retirement' was with immediate effect. Matome has herself confirmed that she retired but refused to say why she did so in that particular manner, without giving notice. The Director of the Public Service Management is one of the most powerful positions within the public service. While the DPSM is at the same rank as permanent secretaries, the position weilds more power in terms of the employment of officers. For example the DPSM can overrule a permanent secretary over whether an officer should be transferred or not. 

Other retirements that have raised eyebrows are those of two deputy permanent secretaries at the Government Implementation Coordinating Office (GICO) - messers Letsapa Mojaphoko and Modisaotsile Kono. Mojaphoko, an ICT, specialist was deputy permanent secretary ICT while Modisaotsile Kono was deputy permanent Secretary for Infrastructure.

The two men's retirement is also reported to have been simultaneous and with immediate effect.

Asked if indeed he had retired, Mojaphoko could only say ' life goes on' and would not say if he had indeed retired or been forced out. He however confirmed that he was no longer working for GICO. Kono could not be reached as his phone was off. However a source within GICO confirmed that Kono had also 'retired'.

The 'retirements' come barely a week after the retirement of Botswana Defence Force's commander of the ground forces Major General Pius Mokgware whose retirement was also reported to be with immediate effect.

Curiously officers at all the offices where the officials worked said their bosses had not issued 'goodbye' memos to staff as is usually the case when heads of ministries retire.

An attempt to get a comment from the permanent secretary to the President, and the man who reportedly signed the official's retirement letters drew a blank as he would not speak with Mmegi. He nonetheless relayed a message through his secretary, to the effect that Mmegi should get details of the purported retirements from the officials who have 'retired'.

However, sources have indicated that the 'retirements' have the hallmarks of dismissals or forced retirements.'How do you explain a situation where a permanent secretary comes to work in the morning and leaves for good by close of business? We should not be expected to accept that these people are retiring of their own volition.

They are being pushed. And honestly, we are likely to see more of these in the near future,'  The source also revealed that late last year all permanent secretaries and officials at permanent secretary level were asked to prepare hand-over notes.

'As it is now, it is every man for himself. You never know if you will be going to work the following day. It does not even appear like these are the works of the PSP.'