Tafa takes swipe at Boko

ISAIAH MOREWAGAE
Staff Writer | Friday May 17, 2013 00:00

 

Boko was recently quoted in the local media criticising the appointment of Tafa and President Ian Khama's young brother, Anthony Khama, to the UB council. Boko also questioned the deteriorating education system in the country.At the farewell of the former chairperson of the UB Council, who is currently the judge of the Court of Appeal, Elijah Legwaila, Tafa said unlike Boko's assertion, UB has undergone tremendous transformation which has seen student intake increase from 10,000 to 16,000 this year. 'Unlike my colleague Duma Boko, UB has undergone tremendous transformation under honourable Legwaila's leadership,' Tafa said.

Tafa asserted that the current UB Council that will be taking over from the one led by Legwaila has diverse skills and experience. He said the current council is much experienced in that it represents the private sector and other sectors thus it will help drive UB forward.  'UB has experienced and diverse council with experienced individuals who will help drive it forward,' Tafa said.Tafa, together with Anthony were recently appointed to the UB council amid criticism from some quarters including opposition parties. Tafa represented President Khama during the infamous Gomolemo Motswaledi saga that led to the formation of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) breakaway party Botswana Movement for Democracy. He is also the chairperson of the electoral board of the ruling BDP.

Tara congratulated Legwaila for his service to the UB, which began in 1998. 'Legwaila's service began at a time when UB was undergoing a number of soft changes including semesterisations, the full implementation of the 199/2000 restructuring exercise, quality assurance and the performance management system,' Tafa said.He also said while he felt privileged to step into the shoes of a man of such great achievements, 'I also feel challenged to meet the high standards and expectations generated by such unparallel success'. Meanwhile, the outgoing chairperson has urged government, through the Ministry of Education and Skills Development, to reconsider their decision to discard the waiver for foreign lecturers. He said UB used to enjoy a special waiver when it wanted to recruit a foreign lecturer or any employee but that the government has since stopped the exercise. Legwaila said the decision had bad effects on the institution recruitment drive in that the visa process takes a long time which sometimes ends in an applicant finding another job while awaiting visa.'This development makes UB lose quality employees which was in the future cured by the special waiver,' Legwaila said.