DK comes to Molale's rescue

Staff Writer | Friday February 15, 2008 00:00

In a statement to Parliament yesterday, Kwelagobe said the IEC Secretary, Gabriel Seeletso, refused to accept the PSP's appointment of an officer who had succeeded in an interview in favour of one who had failed the interview. 

Molale refused to authorise a request for travel abroad on a benchmarking trip by Office of the President staff who assisted the IEC Secretariat and who would be absent for an extended period without justification, said Kwelagobe.

In another case, Molale did not approve the IEC Secretary's leave and the acting appointment of his deputy because the applications were made retrospectively.

'In the public service, leave is applied for in advance, except in cases of emergency which also must be communicated to the approving authority. In this case, this was not done,' said Kwelagobe.

Kwelagobe emphasised that the IEC, like any other independent institution, does not exist in an administrative vacuum with their own separate rules and procedures, hence Molale's actions regarding IEC affairs. The statement followed a request from the Member of Parliament for Gaborone North, Keletso Rakhudu that the Presidential Affairs Minister should brief the House on the allegations about the purported interference and meddling in the affairs of the IEC by Molale.

Molale's interference became a major issue of public interest when Francistown High Court Judge, John Mosojane, resigned as the IEC chairman because he would no longer be judge when his next term of office came up as required by the rules. He cited the PSP's interference in the affairs of the elections as incidental to his relinquishing chairmanship of the IEC. Meanwhile, Kwelagobe stated that the allegations may have arisen 'as a result of the PSP's lawful actions when he exercised his supervisory and managerial functions in respect of the commission's staff (who are public servants) which includes appointments, acting appointment, transfers, approval of travel, discipline and other matters'. On other matters, Kwelagobe said that the IEC Secretary is accountable for the use and management of public resources within the ambit of the law like other senior officials such as permanent secretaries and other officials of similar status.

'It is an administrative action that has no bearing on the running of elections,' declared Kwelagobe.