BOTSWANA
The sacking of Botswana’s Director General of the Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS), Isaac Kgosi (pictured) is sending shivers down the spines of other Public Servants in the African country.
The dismissal, which came straight from the office of new President, Mokgweetsi Masisi, prompted Permanent Secretary to the President, Carter Morupisi to issue a statement saying that PS employees were not being hunted down by the new administration.
Mr Kgosi was handed a letter of dismissal by Mr Morupisi at the Office of the President in the presence of some heavily armed subordinates, who later escorted Mr Kgosi to the DIS building where he handed over Government property including some firearms.
Observers said that while Mr Kgosi’s sacking could have triggered panic in the Public Service, it signalled how Mr Masisi’s administration intended to fight growing levels of corruption in the Public Service.
Reports indicated that a few months before his retirement, the previous President, Ian Khama had wanted to lock in a five-year contract for Mr Kgosi.
Mr Morupisi said whenever there was an executive transition from one Head of State to another, it was inevitable there would be changes in personnel at both Cabinet and senior Government official level, as well as in administrative structures.
“On behalf of the Government, I therefore wish to take this opportunity to reassure the public that such changes will, where necessary, occur in the context of our longstanding commitment and frameworks for good governance,” Mr Morupisi said.
“The public may also be reassured that there is no ongoing witch-hunt in Government, as has been alleged in some quarters in the media.”
He said such administrative changes should also not be seen as a judgment on any previous administration.
Gaborone, 14 May 2018
