Masisi’s Cabinet reshuffle headache

Speculation is rising that President Mokgweetsi Masisi will announce a significant Cabinet reshuffle before the end of this month. But, as Masisi prepares his reshuffle, he definitely has a challenge of manouevring around factions within the party he leads in an endeavour to strike a healthy balance at a time when factionalism is playing out in the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP).

Even the backbench where he has to pick from as he has no other choice, it will not be that easy for him because of mounting hostilities within the ruling party ranks. The resignation of one of Masisi’s trusted allies Mpho Balopi from Cabinet, has heightened speculation of a big fall out.

Theirs is a true story that in politics there are no permanent enemies nor friends. Balopi remains a powerful figure within the ruling BDP as the secretary-general, but his stay in the party might prove to be problematic for Masisi as issues of trust have already crept in.

For starters, Balopi previously played a crucial role that ensured Masisi won two main elective congresses where he contested for the position of the party chairperson at both Mmadinare and Tonota.

It was during his tenure in 2019 that the BDP displaced the opposition from its traditional stronghold in the south of the country. He was previously in the President’s inner circle of trusted allies and his recent resignation from Cabinet has definitely set tongues wagging amongst those close to Masisi.

Another disturbing development is the emergence of a powerful lobby group that is allegedly led by amongst others Balopi, Minister of Infrastructure and Housing Development, Thapelo Matsheka and other party diehards. The group is allegedly giving President Masisi sleepless nights mainly after the party’s poor showing in 11 council by-elections where the party won only three wards losing the other eight to the opposition.

Another scare is that, from the Balopi lobby group, they have already declared their plan to challenge Vice President Slumber Tsogwane for the position of party chairperson. Masisi’s is definitely worried by this turn of events as it might affect his succession plan negatively. In his decision, Masisi has to be seen to be above factionalism as he leads the party after all.

Divided as it is, he has to play somewhere in the middle in an endeavour to win back the control of the party that has been fast slipping away from his grip. There will be a lot at stake in the impending

Cabinet reshuffle. As the party steward, Masisi knows very well that for him to win the hearts and minds of all and sundry, he has to play politics of inclusion at all costs.

Therefore, a lot will be read from his decision, like it or not. This is not new. Previously, former president Festus Mogae found himself caught up in factional fights as then marginalised Barata Phathi, which was then led by Daniel Kwelagobe and Ponatshego Kedikilwe, took him to task until factional differences were attended to at a meeting called by the marginalised faction which fought so hard for inclusion both in the party leadership and in government which were dominated by the A-Team faction. Mid-term, President Masisi is eyeing a second term and in the process it is only logical that he balances his acts. He has to run with a Cabinet that will deliver satisfactorily in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic that has slowed down economic activity.

Ahead of the party elective congress, the President’s body language has to communicate the message of peace and unity to the hoi-polloi as he has to win the hearts and minds of the people. After all, the President’s strength is derived even from the grassroots politicians. Furthermore, Masisi will remain haunted by his unsolicited comments at the Adonsonia Hotel in 2018, where he said he mourned some of his Cabinet colleagues who had lost the party primaries.

“As President, I cannot but take note of the obliteration of of my Cabinet at the primary elections. Some of those who beat them cannot match them,” Masisi had declared frustratingly at the National Business Conference.

He had also bemoaned that the qualifications of winning an election in a political contest are not equivalent to the qualifications one needs in government. All these acts, as a sitting president, Masisi will have to balance them and ensure that he is with his team up to 2024 national polls that will usher his second term.

While presidents have the exclusive prerogative of Cabinet reshuffles, Mmegi sources pointed to several clues that suggest there will be a few new faces in the seats of Cabinet ministers when the Budget Speech takes place on February 1. The sources said the reason former Minister of Labour Productivity and Skills Development, Balopi, has not been replaced after resigning in December, is because Masisi is leaning towards a grander scale revamp of his Cabinet. The reshuffle will precede the revamp of government in which several ministerial mandates are expected to be merged, split or made to stand alone. It is expected that the upcoming reshuffle will see some ministers chopped, while some BDP backbenchers could find themselves promoted to ministers.

Members of Parliament such as Thapelo Letsholo and Simon Mavange are reportedly front runners for ministerial appointments. “There will likely be the creation of new posts in Ministries as part of the RESET Agenda,” one source told Mmegi this week. “This development comes with different things because some BDP members who are in the communication sub-committee are likely to make it into some of the government positions. “Some of the MPs that may make it to Cabinet include Mavange and Letsholo.”

The President has not even hidden it from some party members, a few in the central committee and also from some Cabinet ministers that his relationship with one member in his Cabinet has deteriorated. Another source said the President would also base his decisions on the performance of ministers and their mandates. “The Cabinet reshuffle is long overdue because the President from time to time assesses Ministries’ performance, deliveries and whether policies are aligned with the BDP manifesto. “If some ministers are not delivering then they will be in trouble, but of course, others have done extremely well.” BDP chief Whip Liakat Kablay on Thursday, told Mmegi changes were in the air.

“A Cabinet reshuffle is going to be done because some ministries need strong ministers. It is time the President looks into it. At times ministries need strong ministers who can take control of some departments to ensure that they deliver.

“The President must look into key ministries and whether those ministers are doing well or not,” he said.

Kablay added: “The Chief of Staff, Boyce Sebetela must advise the President on this Cabinet reshuffle and whether some ministers are capable in those ministries or not. “Batswana want service delivery and as the BDP we have to make sure that we deliver.”

Analysts say Masisi’s task in reshuffling the Cabinet is complicated, as the ruling party is reportedly battling divisions. The President is required to select his Cabinet from Members of Parliament and within the backbenchers available to fill the slots, Masisi will also be looking for loyalty, as much as the ability to deliver. Previously, Masisi has publicly expressed a wish that he could select his Cabinet from even outside Parliament in order to have access to the best brains available in the country.