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Botswana: Khama Fires Five Ministers
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Mmegi/The Reporter (Gaborone)
2 April 2008
Posted to the web 2 April 2008
Gideon Nkala
President Ian Khama has appointed his new cabinet and fired five ministers he inherited from his predecessor Festus Mogae. Three full ministers and two junior ministers have been dropped in one fell swoop while others have been shuffled around in a major rearrangement of cabinet.
Two women ministers have been dropped from Khama's cabinet, Professor Shiela Tlou who is just smarting from back to back defeat from the BDP primaries in Palapye has been sent packing as Health Minister and in her place comes Lesego Motsumi. Motsumi has done a stint at the Ministry of Health after Joy Phumaphi left to join the World Health Organisation. Another big gun to be bundled out of cabinet is Charles Tibone who until yesterday was Minister of Labour and Home Affairs. Tibone has been replaced by Peter Siele who has been an Assistant Minister at Education. During his civil service years, Siele worked in the department of Immigration and rose to be the chief immigration officer.
The sacking of Major-Gen Moeng Pheto has reduced the numbers of former military men in cabinet. He was Minister for Sports, Youth and Culture. Thamaga legislator Gladys Kokorwe has replaced Pheto and this means the deputy Speaker's position is now vacant. Junior ministers Duncan Mlazie (Finance and Development Planning) has been left out of cabinet. His position has been snapped up by cabinet first timer Samson Moyo.
Educationist Moggie Mbaakanyi has been chucked out of the Ministry of Education where she has been assistant to Jacob Nkate who retains his position. Former school headmaster Leboonamang Mokalake is the new Assistant Minister at Education. He moves from Ministry of Trade where he assisted Neo Moroka.
The Ministry of Education now has only one Assistant Minister instead of two. The ministry will now be called Education and Skills Development.
While other ministers were dropped two backbenchers have been promoted. Just a few hours after reading the Setswana version Khama's inauguration speech, Selebi-Phikwe legislator Nonofo Molefhi was made Minister of Lands and Housing, previously held by Ramadeluka Seretse who moves to the Office of the President to head the Ministry of Justice, Defence and Security. Another big mover is Ghanzi MP Christiaan De Graaf who has been elevated to full minister in charge of Agriculture. Bobirwa MP Shaw Kgathi is now assistant minister to De Graaf. Duke Lefhoko, the MP for Shoshong is the new Assistant Minister at Trade and Industry. Prior to the 2004 general elections, Lefhoko had served as Assistant Minister of Education.
Other ministers have retained their positions though they have been shuffled around. Phandu Skelemani is the new Minister of Foreign Affairs in place of Mompati Merafhe who is now vice-president. Skelemani's former ministry of Justice, Defence and Security goes to Seretse. Johnie Swartz moves from Agriculture to Works and Transport.
Perennial assistant minister Oliphant Mfa has been shunted to Local Government to join Ambrose Masalila to deputise Margaret Nasha. Utlwang Matlhabaphiri is the new Assistant Minister at Health.
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Other ministers have retained their positions. They include Baledzi Gaolathe at Finance; Neo Moroka at Trade and Industry; Ponatshego Kedikilwe at Minerals, Energy and Water Resources; Daniel Kwelagobe at Presidential Affairs and Public Administration; Kitso Mokaila at Environment, Wildlife and Tourism. Assistant minister Frank Ramsden has also been retained at Works and Transport. Merafhe does not have ministerial duties. Perhaps as Khama indicated in his speech, the VP will be in charge of project implementation across the ministries.
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