That a cabinet reshuffle is imminent is not in doubt, given the fact that there are already two key vacancies: at Defence, Justice and Security and a junior minister at Finance and Development Planning. The powerful Defence vacancy was created by the resignation of Minister Ndelu Seretse in the aftermath of investigations for corruption for which he is currently before the courts, while the Assistant Minister of Finance, Charles Tibone, resigned from the crucial post purportedly to focus on his constituency. The rest of the cabinet came under an unwanted appraisal at the close of 2010 in which some of them were rated below average. Hence, it is understandable if the impending reshuffle should give them the jitters because it hangs over their heads like the sword of Damocles.
Afterall, to the incumbent, the President's prerogative to appoint the Cabinet is perhaps the single most feared constitutional devise that can visit insecurity upon those who have appeared to be the most fortunate and powerful. Of immediate concern is the sudden cessation of the delights of the table at endless luxurious dinners in the company of lawful spouses and other consorts after a trip to exclusive shopping malls. It is a time for reckoning to see whether their credit balances are sufficient to meet all their transactions and transgressions or they are in the red beyond the redeeming power of their party colours. For many of them, these personal considerations come before the immense responsibility of office that has been placed upon them because there are few among us all who are truly public-spirited. Otherwise, how do we explain our declining standards of living when ours is a country with all the natural resources in the world? How do we explain widespread poverty in the midst of such wealth? Or the sorrowful state of the Motswana soul and abysmal condition of his/her psyche that nothing is awakened in the face of this thuggery? Against this, how do we explain our failure to see the connection between the oblivion confronting young people when they look over the horizon and their declining morals that find expression in swearing, brawling, murder and suicide? Five years to Vision 2016, how do we explain our insouciant approach when the goals are disappearing? Or our robust pride in being a multi-racial society when the divisions and the 'colour bar' are as stark as sin? How do we - after 45 years of independence in which we have accumulated immense stocks of foreign exchange and excess liquidity - remain de facto medical tourists to South Africa? How come we have no means of girding ourselves for floods when we pay foreign civil construction companies in which our ministers hold shares to build our roads? The answer is: They are. And even as they might doodle and fidget about the cabinet reshuffle, on a personal level, most of them are thoroughly cushioned to weather the storm and will live happily ever after. Yes, personal level. That is what it is about. It behooves Khama to consider these questions and more when he names his next team. We petition the Maker on behalf of the President at this hour, for uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.
