Ordinarily we would be delighted to celebrate the appointment of such a high profiled personality as Jacob Nkate. After all Nkate has been a senior Cabinet minister who once served as minister of Trade and Industry. His knowledge and experience of the international trade coupled with his global connections could help BEDIA in particular, and Botswana in general, woo investors to this country. Nkate is therefore not just any other Johny come lately, he has the right education and the requisite experience. We are not popping the champagne all the same. Not because we love this country less or have anything against the former minister of Educations and Skills Development. In fact, we never celebrated that he is unemployed when he lost his Ngami seat in October 16 elections and could not even get the nod under the Specially Elected dispensation. He is qualified as any Motswana and his skills should therefore be utilised. Our only gripe is that his appointment appears more like a political appointment - one that is done to appease political side-kicks than one that is based on merit and the desire to serve. It would appear Nkate's political principals were under pressure to find something for him while he waits for a political break. The mission of BEDIA and its mandate were secondary when this was done. What does this do to the staff at BEDIA? Do we expect them to work so hard and hope that one day they will rise to the pinnacle? What happens to the idea of corporate governance? When Nkate, Kavis Kario,Neo Moroka and as host of other BDP MPs who lost the elections were not appointed to Parliament as specially elected MPs we all shouted Hallelujah, thinking that at least someone will restore credibility to a system that has been abused by the previous administrations to placate election losers.Now we ask ourselves, we cheered Khama then only for him to throw the egg into our faces just when we were thinking his administration will be about merit and not sycophancy. In our view there is no difference between hand-picking political bed fellows for ambassadorial appointments and leadership of parastatal organisations and dragging them into Parliament under Specially Elected dispensation. It is just the dressing which is different but the effect is the same - it's all about breast-beating.Batswana should now brace themselves for other appointments. We might as well ask: Where is Kario going? How about Moroka? The sad thing about this system is that it will not fend for opposition politicians or BDP politicians who are not in good books with the clique. Is this how Khama wants to run his transparent and ethical administration? After all 'go tshwana hela".
Merry Christmas and a happy New Year
This is our last edition of the year. We want to thank you for your support throughout the year. We promise that next year we will do even better to serve you. We value your support very much. Our next edition will be on January 6, 2010.
