What they say about Sebetela’s appointment
FRANCISTOWN: The appointment of a former Debswana executive, Boyce Sebetela by government as Chief of Staff in the Office of the President (OP) has been met with so much criticism and approval from various stakeholders. Whilst there are those who believe that President Mokgweetsi Masisi made the right call by making the appointment, others are uncomfortable with the appointment. Sebetela who resumed duty early this week reports directly to President Masisi and his main duties are to direct and oversee implementation of national priorities in alignment with political pronouncements made by the State President.
Critics including opposition parties have labelled the appointment a clear indication of politicisation of the public service, abuse of power and resources by Masisi. Until his appointment, Sebetela was a wellknown BDP activist, and he had expressed desire to contest for a party central committee position at the upcoming elective congress.
Sebetela, an engineer by profession, rose through the ranks and established himself as one of the biggest corporate executives in the country but he has relatively not been active in the corporate sector in recent times.
His last most notable executive role was at Debswana, where he was the head of Strategy and Business Improvement. He is also a former Member of Parliament (MP) for Palapye and Cabinet member. Furthermore, he also serves on boards of various corporate entities. Commenting on the appointment, former minister of Tertiary Education, Research Science and Technology Master Goya said: “In the many occasions that I have had to find myself in attendance of any event with Sebetela, I came to realise that he was a very strategic and analytical person. This post to me needs a person who is strategic, analytical, a driver, a self-starter, a go-getter, self-motivated and possessing a vast of experience in governance, political and government issues. Sebetela that I know possesses and has prowess in all these issues.” Sebetela and Goya are relatively close and their relationship dates from their high school days. The two were also known to be shrewd volleyball stars during their secondary school days. Goya succeeded Sebetela as MP for Palapye. They have also worked together in several government assignments and at the BDP.
The former Palapye legislator noted that Sebetela’s experience in dealing with governance issues at Debswana will be in handy and be put to test at his new role.
“Sebetela is someone who will analyse an issue for you, come up with its pros and cons and inform you which side outweighs the other and finally ask you to decide for yourself,” said Goya. He added the creation of the post of Chief of Staff is not only historic because it is a new post within OP but it will go a long way in addressing the longtime hue and cry of politicians within the ruling party who have always wished to see ‘the alignment of government machinery and political interest of the government of the day’.
He further said: “Every five years when we go for elections, all political parties present promises to the electorates in their manifestos. The electorates mostly vote the party whose manifesto seems to address their social needs. When the party gets voted into power, there is very little if not none at all that is done to ensure that all the promises that were made before elections are implemented. The creation of this post will therefore address the plea of the electorate.”
Various commentators who spoke to Mmegi this week also stated that Sebetela is naturally a hyperactive person with abundance of energy, and he is also a very outspoken person therefore, a perfect fit for the role of Chief of Staff.
On the contrary, the Umbrella for Democratic
Change (UDC) said the appointment signals the beginning of an unprecedented culture of bad governance on the part of the ruling party where government appointments and promotions in the civil service will now be openly based on political considerations, nepotism and tokenism.
“The political appointment of Sebetela to the Office of the President is at best a clear vote of no confidence on the Vice President, who has no other function than to act as the President in Masisi’s absence, Minister Kabo Morwaeng who is a Minister in the Office, together with his Assistant Meshack Mthimkhulu,” said the UDC in a media statement.
The UDC statement further said, “the appointment cannot be said to have anything to do with government business, but merely management of BDP internal arrangements”.
“Let us not forget that just recently, President Masisi created yet another token position of Ambassador at Large for his erstwhile Permanent Secretary, Elias Magosi.
He went further to appoint a third Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, just so that he can fulfil a deal supposedly entered into with an opposition Member of Parliament who joined the BDP not long ago,” added the UDC.