allAfrica.com: Botswana: The Fired Ministers - What Went Wrong? (Page 1 of 1)

Hours after his inauguration, new President Ian Khama sent five cabinet ministers packing. Staff Writer, Ryder Gabathuse looks at the first men and women whose heads rolled in the new regime.

Ex-Health Minister Professor Sheila Tlou

She is a professor of Nursing Education on leave of absence from the University of Botswana. She was nominated by the retired president Festus Mogae to Parliament and made a cabinet minister after the 2004 general elections. No doubt, Tlou joined the Ministry of Health as one of the most highly qualified people. Supposedly, she was bringing in scarce skills that have always been lacking in the ministry, as it was previously headed by accountants and former teachers among others.

Her nomination gave hope to the nation that the troubled ministry would come alive, especially after Joy Phumaphi who resigned to take up a post in the WHO headed it. During her days, Phumaphi owned up to mistakes within her docket and service delivery her priority.

Unfortunately, Tlou seemed unable to resolve the shortage of drugs and medicines in the country's health system. She blamed Batswana entrepreneurs engaged by the Ministry of Health to supply drugs and medicines for the problem. It was perhaps her indecisiveness to deal with the troubles at the ministry that affected her delivery. She knew what to do but may be she was just too slow to satisfy the clients at the ministry.

Queues at the hospitals and clinics across the country have remained a concern. Her two losses to Moiseraele Master Goya in the party primary for the Palapye by-election did not help her political CV. Some of her supporters shouted loudly for anyone to hear that they would not back Goya during the by-election. At a time when the BDP is calling for total peace and unity, such utterances were ill-advised.

The post by-election hullabaloo later became the subject of the party's investigations in its quest to know the truth after some blame game. This was done in the interest of solidifying BDP support in the area. At least Tlou has a choice to return to academia and resume her job after the leave of absence.

Ex-Youth, Sports and Culture Minister Moeng Pheto

During his service in the army, it was believed that he was one of the generals to take over as military chief. But he was knocked out of the race to become overall commander when he was transferred to serve as a diplomat. In the cabinet, he was previously appointed to the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs and later to the new Ministry of Youth Sports and Culture. It was unfortunate that at both the ministries, Pheto's performance was not up to scratch. He failed to effectively deal with problems at the Botswana National Youth Council.

Khama generally has an affinity for ex-military men but it seems he has a different opinion when it comes to Pheto, which could be the reason he fired him.

Ex-Assistant Minister of Education, Moggie Mbaakanyi

She was previously a lecturer at the Molepolole College of Education and served as its Principal. Hence her appointment as Assistant Minister for Education was viewed as a good choice to help her boss, Jacob Nkate, who is a lawyer.

As an educationist, a lot was expected of her. As a Specially Elected MP, Mbaakanyi concentrated more on trying to position herself for another shot to secure the Lobatse parliamentary seat, perhaps leaving her ministerial duties to suffer. At times, she left the Lobatse legislator Nehemiah Modubule complaining that Mbaakanyi was using her official vehicle at funerals around Lobatse as part of her campaigns.

Now, after finally winning the party ticket to contest the 2009 general election, she loses her cabinet post.

Some people blame her fate on the fact that she held a 'celebration' after getting the ticket contrary to party rules. In her response, Mbaakanyi was quoted by a local publication saying that people have mistaken her lifestyle as a party. She had reportedly said that her standard of living permitted her to organize what in the eyes of some was seen as a huge party. She allegedly said people believed there are many vehicles at her house on the day of the alleged party when there were only six. She added that there would have been many vehicles if the whole of her family was there. This was carried in a letter she purportedly wrote to the BDP Central Committee and leaked to a local publication. By all standards, Mbaakanyi was not being modest if this is what she said. These are some of the things that may not have gone down well with Khama. Mbaakanyi was not considered a failure, in fact some suspect that there could be other things other than her performance. Her relationship with Minister Jacob Nkate is said to have been anything but positive.

Ex-Labour and Home Affairs Minister, Mbinganyi Charles Tibone

When he was elected BDP deputy treasurer at the party's last congress in Molepolole, it was believed he was a trusted man. Hence his position in government was thought to be assured. He was first appointed to the plum Ministry of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources before he was shifted to Labour and Home Affairs. He is generally a quiet man. Previously, former cabinet minister, Boyce Sebetela raised noise about the government's rural electrification, which was supervised by Tibone's Minerals, Energy and Water Resources Ministry. It was during his tenure at the Labour and Home Affairs Ministry when the government slapped visa requirements on a number of foreigners deemed to be critical of the government's policies on the marginalised Basarwa. This issue raised a lot of noise so much that some people felt it could have affected Botswana's good name internationally.

There was a time Tibone's constituents in Zwenshambe village clashed with him over the distribution of electricity. Some of them argued that since he was staying close to the village, the cost of the connection to his home was passed over to them as their bills were unreasonably high.

On labour issues, which are crucial on the delivery of the public and private sector, Tibone seemed to have been overshadowed by Assistant Minister Gaotlhaetse Matlhabaphiri who was previously a trade unionist. He seemed to be over shining with his interactions with the stakeholders before he was moved to the Ministry of Health as junior minister. Matlhabaphiri's running of the show could have - in a way - cast aspersions on his boss' abilities.

Ex-Finance Minister, Duncan Mlazie

He was the first Motswana MD of Barclays Bank. He is also a shrewd businessman who has a good number of businesses in Kasane. His empire starts from Kazungula right through to Kasane. This also makes him a popular son of the soil. He is generally a humble character who is never drunk with his riches. Those in the know say the man has worked very hard to accumulate wealth. He is a known friend of both the retired Mogae and Khama. He has always been appreciated to speed developments in the tourism destination of Kasane and neighbouring Kazungula. When he was appointed Assistant Minister, the expectation was that he would take to his position like a fish to water, very astute and robust.

It is unfortunate that during his tenure at the ministry, Mlazie became very silent and suffered inarticulate tendencies when it was least expected of him. It is not easy to trace what really went wrong with Mlazie, a man who previously ran one of the blue chip companies in Barclays Bank.

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