PRESIDENT KHAMA'S NEW CABINET -- CHANGE WITH ORDER

C O N F I D E N T I A L GABORONE 000248

SIPDIS

ABUJA FOR H. MERRITT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/02/2018
TAGS: BC PGOV PINR PINS PREL
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT KHAMA'S NEW CABINET -- CHANGE WITH ORDER

REF: GABORONE 245

Classified By: Ambassador K. Canavan, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: Newly installed President Khama stayed well
within his comfort zone by selecting Foreign Minister Lt.
General Merafhe to serve as his vice president, and the
choice also underscores Khama's inaugural remarks pledging
continuity of government policy and vision. Similarly, his
newly announced cabinet created no real surprises. The
apprehensions of some observers concerning Khama's tendencies
to rely on a close circle of active and former military
officers have been somewhat reinforced, as he moved swiftly
to install his vision of change and new order in Botswana.
End summary.


2. (C) Ian Khama kept his choice for vice president secret
until after his swearing-in, when he officially proposed the
name of Foreign Minister Lt. General Mompati Merafhe to the
Parliament for its pro forma ratification. Khama and Merafhe
have worked together for years, and the President clearly is
at ease with the man who was his predecessor as commander of
the Botswana Defence Force (BDF). As Foreign Minister,
Merafhe kept Botswana on a cautious and low-profile path,
avoiding any major missteps but also missing most
opportunities for the country to play a more significant
international role. The 72 year old Merafhe will not serve
as VP for all of the Khama presidency, according to published
reports, but rather will be an "interim" figure until Khama
settles upon a younger politician to be groomed as his own
successor. In the meantime, the new VP will be responsible
for chairing a "special committee of cabinet" that Khama
announced he will create, that will be charged with
generating new approaches on economic and employment issues.


3. (C) Vice President Merafhe's greatest asset will likely
be his compatibility with Ian Khama -- and his greatest
weakness will likely be that same compatibility.
Specifically, the two men are simply too similar in
background and in thinking to offer each other new
perspectives or to serve as mutual intellectual foils. Both
Khama and Merafhe hail from the "royal village" sanctuary of
Serowe in north central Botswana, both were career military
officers before entering politics, and both commanded the
BDF. Neither of the two has a university degree, neither has
economic or commercial experience or expertise, and neither
is considered an instinctive "small d democrat."


4. (C) Vice President Merafhe will join the rest of the new
cabinet:

Presidential Affairs and Public Administration -- Mr. Daniel
Kwelagobe (unchanged). This is a key position, responsible
for many of the President's non-security, non-ministerial
functions such as elections, general oversight, parliamentary
relations, and HIV/AIDS coordination. Kwelagobe is
well-known and respected by this Mission, and had been widely
viewed as a leading VP contender, perhaps to provide regional
balance from Molepolole in the south.

Local Government -- Ms. Margaret Nasha (unchanged).

Trade and Industry -- Mr. Neo Moroka (unchanged). Moroka is
quite pleased to remain in this important position , and told
the Ambassador he is hoping to "make a deal" with Khama to
stay in the job as long as he remains in parliament.

Finance and Development Planning -- Mr. Baledzi Gaolathe
(unchanged).

Youth, Sports and Culture -- Ms. Gladys Kokorwe (vice Pheto,
who was not given a new ministerial position). Kokorwe was
previously Deputy Speaker of the Parliament.

Minerals, Energy and Water Resources -- Mr. Ponatshego
Kedikilwe (unchanged). Another VP runner-up, and an economic
expert.

Communications, Science and Technology -- Ms. Pelonomi
Venson-Moitoi (unchanged). Her ministry is a key point of
contact for IBB/VOA-related business.

Defense, Justice and Security -- Mr. Dikgakgamatso Seretse
(vice Skelemani, who was moved to Foreign Affairs). A
previous Minister of Lands and Housing, Seretse is also a
retired BDF Brigadier, and in his new position is responsible
for a range of critical security and law enforcement
functions. A cousin of the President, he is one of the MPs
representing Serowe.

Agriculture -- Mr. Christian De Graf (vice Swartz, who was

moved to Works and Transport). An Afrikaner from Ghanzi,
commercial farmer, and the only white Motswana presently in
parliament.

Works and Transport -- Mr. Johnnie Swartz (vice Motsumi, who
was moved to Health).

Labor and Home Affairs -- Mr. Peter Siele (vice Tibone, who
was not given a new ministerial position).

Health -- Ms. Lesego Motsumi (vice Tlou, who was not given a
new ministerial position). This is a pivotal portfolio for
the U.S. due to PEPFAR. We worked closely with Tlou and will
engage early with Motsumi.

Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation -- Mr. Phandu
Skelemani (vice Merafhe, who became VP). Skelemani has
previously served as Attorney General, Minister of
Presidential Affairs, and Minister of Defense, Justice and
Security. Articulate and able, he was perhaps the most
consistently impressive member of President Mogae's cabinet.

Environment, Wildlife and Tourism -- Mr. Kitso Mokaila
(unchanged). Also was an officer in the BDF.

Education and Skills Development -- Mr. Jacob Nkate
(unchanged). Seen by some as an activist and younger rising
star in the ruling BDP, he was also a dark-horse VP contender.

Lands and Housing -- Mr. Nonofo Molefhi (vice Seretse). Well
known to us as active in HIV/AIDS prevention.


5. (C) Many local commentators over the years have noted Ian
Khama's military background with some unease, especially as
it is coupled with what even his supporters admit is a
certain tendency toward an authoritarian management style as
well as an apparent dislike for political give-and-take.
Khama is also known to socialize largely with active and
former military personnel, and to have relied on that circle
for advice and support when he was Vice President. Those
observers who believe that Khama is over-reliant on his
military friends will find some early signs to fuel their
worry about the "militarization" of his administration. The
most obvious such sign is the selection of retired Lt.
General Merafhe to be vice president, another is the
elevation of retired Brigadier Seretse to the key post of
Minister for Defence, Justice and Security. The Minister of
Environment, Wildlife and Tourism, Kitso Mokaila, is also a
former BDF officer. Perhaps most significant, though, is
that Khama arranged the promotion of his personal chief of
staff, BDF Colonel Isaac Kgosi, to head Botswana's new
national intelligence service -- and to report directly to
the President, without statutory provision for Parliamentary
review or oversight. Yet another BDF officer, Colonel Duke
Masilo, will assume most of Kgosi's previous duties on
Khama's personal staff. Finally, despite having heard years
of negative speculation about the significance of their
military backgrounds, both Khama and Merafhe have chosen to
retain and use their retired military ranks as part of their
current official titles.


6. (C) Comment: What will be important to watch in coming
months is where -- if anywhere -- President Khama decides to
point his new ship of state. "Stay the course" has been the
standing order for the Botswana government for the last
decade or so, even as the need for various reforms has become
ever more evident. Government inertia has prevented
modernization and reform in the economic and commercial
sectors, and stymied an exit from the fiasco resulting from
the relocation of the San from the Central KalaQi Game
Reserve. In his inaugural address, Khama endorsed the
existing national development plan and ruling party
manifesto, but warned that citizens "may detect a change in
style and special emphasis on a number of issues." He went
on to rule out "radical changes in the way we have been
setting out our objectives as agreed upon by the ruling party
and government." Those mixed messages on change, coupled
with his very conservative personnel choices, do not yet
reveal much about his intentions to move the nation.


7. (C) Comment, continued: When the Ambassador asked Trade
Minister Moroka how Khama's first cabinet meeting went on
April 2, his face lit up and he said "very well." He went on
to say that Khama was very precise, as he was in his
inaugural speech, about where he wants to go and how he wants
to get there -- something Moroka said he had been missing
under President Mogae. Khama had also reiterated his
comments about people in the civil service being promoted on
merit, and that those who do not perform will be let go.


8. (C) Comment, continued: With two days on the job, we
will spot President and pilot Khama some air space, and a
honeymoon to allow his vision to perhaps fuel a more rapid
ascent, especially in the economic area. Whether the two Lt.
Generals now running the country can successfully impose
military efficiencies and discipline to stimulate economic
growth and social progress is still an open question. One
thing is certain, however: there is definitely a new order in
Botswana. End comment.


CANAVAN