Molf accuses political parties of nepotism

The ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) and opposition parties have been accused of practising nepotism at their constituency offices at the expense of other deserving unemployed citizens.

Former Member of Parliament for Gaborone West Robert Molefhabangwe did not mince his words in an exclusive interview with The Midweek Sun as he said that those employed in various constituency offices have been handpicked since they are friends of the sitting Members of Parliament (MP).

When fully staffed, a constituency office has five employees comprising an office Administrator, Secretary, Messenger/cleaner and two security guards. Allegedly, all of them get the job on the basis that they campaigned for the incumbent MP towards the election.

All parties including Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD), Botswana National Front (BNF) and Botswana Congress Party (BCP) are guilty of this practice, says the outspoken former MP.

“When an MP employs a friend or relative or only members of his or her political party, then this is broad daylight robbery as, out there, there are better qualified job seekers ready to work. I have always maintained that constituency offices should not represent any party but the constituency as a whole since there are a lot of citizens who are not involved in politics as well as foreigners. A constituency is comprised of those who might be against the MP and those who are neutral and it is very important for MPs to desist from employing their friends and party mates since the office belongs to the government and not any party,’’ he said.

Molefhabangwe said that during his tenure as MP, he lost a lot of friends from his party by insisting that all citizens must be given an opportunity to work at constituency offices irrespective of political party affiliation.

When contacted for a comment on the allegations of partisan employment, BCP Publicity Secretary Dithapelo Keorapetse said that it is not the policy of his party to employ constituency office civil servants basing on political party affiliation. Keorapetse said when they employ constituency office workers they do not require one’s party affiliation as this is tantamount to favouritism. “What I am aware of is that we advertise as per government procedure and pick any candidate who qualifies for the job,” he said.

A BCP member who did not want to be disclosed said that all workers employed at various constituency offices are linked to the party in control of the constituency. “Comrade Keorapetse knows very well that no political party will ever employ an outsider into its constituency offices. Those who are normally given the job are derived from the campaign team of the MP as he knows them very well and it would be suicidal to do otherwise,” the source explained.

He added that sometimes conflicts arise when the other members of the campaign team feel they are more deserving than those who got the jobs ahead of them. Reportedly, the fallout becomes so serious that they invest a lot of time and other resources to decampaign the MP in the next election. Deputy President for BMD Wynter Mmolotsi explained that there is a difference between a political party member and a political party activist.

“At BMD, we have no problem to employ any opposition card carrying member as long as they are not activists where they are coming from. Normally a simple card carrying member is always neutral as compared to an activist whose aim is to appease his party at any cost. It will be illogical for me as an MP to recommend an opposition activist in my office since they will by all means work very hard to make my office look unproductive so that their party can wrestle the constituency from me. Those who are simply card carrying members are considered since this is a government job open to all Batswana,’’ he said.

When quizzed to disclose party affiliation of his office employees, he claimed not to be aware of their political affiliation as he said that as per government policy, they should not employ based on partisan lines.

Moeti Mohwasa the BNF spokesperson explained that constituency office workers should be those trusted by their MP. “A constituency office administrator is more like a personal assistant to the MP and this should be a person known and trusted by the MP for the smooth operation of the office. MPs have the right to choose carefully for civil servants to work for them,’’ he said.

He pointed out that their position at BNF is that all constituency workers should be employed following the laid down employment procedure for civil servants. Efforts to solicit a comment from BDP Secretary General Botsalo Ntuane hit a snag at press time as his mobile was off air.