Blackbeard's 13 year tenure in UK raises eyebrows

NELSON DIRENG
Correspondent | Friday November 25, 2011 00:00

 

In the Wednesday parliamentary session, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Lobatse Nehemiah Modubule set the ball rolling when he asked why Blackbeard was deployed to the UK in the first place and why he has never been transferred elsewhere like other ambassadors.

In response Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Phandu Skelemani, said that Blackbeard has been representing Botswana since the July 12, 1998 adding that they had not found it necessary to move Blackbeard.  Skelemani further explained that appointments and deployments are the prerogative of the sitting president.

Francistown West MP Wynter Mmolotsi then asked Skelemani if there was any other high commissioner apart from Blackbeard that had stayed in one country for that long.  Skelemani responded with a 'yes' and sat down but Modubule immediately asked him to name that particular person and also confirm allegations that Blackbeard will not be redeployed because his transfer to the UK was a favour he was awarded for having stepped down from the vice-presidency to make way for Khama in 1998.

Giving another brief answer Skelemani said, 'With respect to Modubule's second question I must say that it is a lie to say that Blackbeard cannot be moved because he made way for Khama.'

Speaking to Mmegi yesterday, Modubule said that allegations are that Blackbeard was given the ambassadorial seat in the UK as compensation for the vice presidency, which was then handed over to Khama in 1998.  He said that he does not know why he was specifically sent to the UK, but mused that it could have been that Blackbeard made the choice.  'This is a seat he was promised and those that deployed him are just merely keeping their end of the promise, which is why he will not be removed or transferred,' he said. Modubule said that he believes that Blackbeard would only be removed if Khama ceases to be president or if he (Blackbeard) decides to retire.

He said that all he wanted to know from Skelemani was whether these allegations were true.  'Botswana ambassadors usually stay in a country they are deployed to for a period not exceeding five years before they are transferred to another mission or are sent back home,' he said.