Former Minister of Infrastructure and Housing Development Thapelo Matsheka has been dropped from cabinet, apparently after a bitter fallout with his principal, President Mokgweetsi Masisi.
It has been increasingly clear that Masisi and Matsheka‘s relationship has turned bitterly sour and the President's action is evident that now he wants to take his nemesis head-on. Matsheka is mentioned amongst a team led by former cabinet minister Mpho Balopi that has reportedly formed a faction that is set to challenge the Masisi-led Botswana Democratic Party (BDP).
“It is true the state and party President Masisi has informed me about the development. I am still a member of the Botswana Democratic Party in good standing. This gives me enough time to spend with Lobatse residents who had voted for me,” Matsheka said in an interview today.
The demotion of his nemesis has seen the promotion of party loyalists like Machana Shamukuni who was the assistant minister of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology, now Minister of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Development, rendered vacant by the resignation of Mpho Balopi. Aubrey Lesaso, formerly an opposition legislator, has been rewarded with the post of Assistant Minister of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology.
Talita Monnkgotla. PIC PHATSIMO KAPENG
In addition, Eric Molale has been transferred to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing Development, whilst Talita Monnakgotla has been promoted from the backbench to be the new Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, taking Kgotla Autlwetse’s position who is now elevated to the substantive position at the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development as Minister. Molebatsi Molebatsi has been transferred to the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security whilst Beauty Manake has transferred to the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry as Assistant Ministers in their respective ministries.
How can this be achieved when there already is little care about the working conditions of those within the private sector employ?For a long time, private sector employees have been neglected by their employers, not because they cannot do better to care for them, but because they take advantage of government's laxity when it comes to protecting and advocating for public sector employees, giving the cue to employers within the private sector...
