The recent appointment of Botswana People’s Party President Motlatsi Molapisi as President Duma Boko’s Political Consultant has reignited concerns over alleged irregularities and political patronage within Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) government circles.
In his inauguration speech, President Duma Boko indicated that appointments to the public service would be based on meritocracy rather than political affiliation or patronage.
The Botswana Republican Party (BRP) has strongly condemned Molapisi’s appointment as it described it as part of a broader culture of corruption and bad governance.
Molapisi, who assumed his role on March 3, 2025, under a contract running until October 30, 2029, is engaged as a consultant rather than a full-time civil servant and receives a monthly salary from public funds. The Office of the President has defended the move, insisting that the appointment is lawful, transparent, and aligns with “long-standing practices in democratic governance.”
In an official statement released on October 9, the Office emphasized that the number of Presidential Advisors had been reduced from six to three “to demonstrate Government’s commitment to efficiency and cost-effectiveness.” Molapisi’s role, the statement added, aims to leverage his political experience and institutional knowledge to strengthen presidential delivery and advance good governance.
Molapisi’s role, the statement added, aims to leverage his political experience and institutional knowledge to strengthen presidential delivery and advance good governance.
But BRP argues that the hiring of UDC leaders and associates, as “pseudo-consultants” paid millions at taxpayers’ expense, bypasses legally established state processes.
The BRP highlighted concerns over duplication of roles, citing the Chief of Staff position as overlapping with the Permanent Secretary to the President (PSP), and questioned why public funds should be used to finance political advisors instead of party coffers. They also demanded clarity on procurement procedures, contract terms, accreditation, and oversight for these appointments.
“Two wrongs do not make a right,” BRP Executive Secretary Chimbidzani Chimidza said. He added that “The President, being a highly trained advocate, should adhere strictly to the law and ensure public funds are not used to line the pockets of party activists and friends.”
Chimbidza further warned of a “creeping kakistocratic regime” and called on citizens to remain vigilant against potential misuse of public resources, emphasizing that unchecked political patronage could erode Botswana’s democratic institutions.
It is understood that while the Office of the President assures legality and transparency, opposition voices maintain that such moves risk undermining accountability, oversight, and public trust.
“In any event why should public funds be used to pay for the President’s POLITICAL advisors? His Political advisors should and must be paid out of his political party’s coffers, not state resources,” argued Chimbidza. He further stated that “How many party members and friends are given public money mascarading as consultants? These ‘pseudo’ consultants: what was their procurement procedure, duration of contract, accreditation and competition?”
“ What are the terms and conditions of the contracts? Was due process followed? Are there signed contracts in place or are we being taken for idiots?”
