Former Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO) Chief Executive Officer, Myra Sekgororoane is rumoured to be earmarked for the top position at Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC).
According to sources, Sekgororoane, who has been with BTO for eight years, has been recommended by the Minister of Trade and Industry Dorcus Makgato-Malesu, who the BITC falls under her portfolio. However, only procedurals to the President Ian Khama are yet to be made.
“She was amongst those who contested for the race, along with acting CEO, Letsebe Sejoe. She will take over the position from Sejoe sooner or later,” revealed the source.
Asked on the reports by Gazette Business in an interview, Sekgororoane denied the reports adding that it may have been a wish of some people for her to ascend to the position. “I am not going there, it is not true. I had options and still have options and if I have my way, my first preference is to go into private sector to set up my own business,” she said.
Asked to confirm the reports on the matter, Minister Malesu told this reporter that; “I am not a rumour monger.”
Asked on the progress made in appointing the CEO, she said the appointment will happen in due course before hanging up the phone.
Government’s spokesperson, Dr Jeff Ramsay said some positions may be discussed at Cabinet but they do not come to Office of the President for approval, adding that “the decisions may be made by the Ministry.”
Sekgororoane, a tourism industry veteran whose contract ended in December 2013, has served at the organisation since its establishment as a parastatal body in 2006 by an Act of Parliament in 2003.
At the time of her departure, the organisation was running in absence of a board of directors and worse still, she had no idea of who she was handing over the office to as there was still no candidate appointed to replace her.
Meanwhile, BITC is headed by Sejoe as an Acting CEO, former International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) CEO. After the merger of IFSC and the Botswana Export Development and Investment Agency in April 2012, Sejoe was appointed Chief Operations Officer and ultimately Acting CEO. The newly merged entity has not had a substantive CEO since its inception.
In an interview with Gazette Business, BITC Board Chairman Victor Senye confirmed that there had been a short list of three candidates which included Sekgororoane and Sejoe who were both interviewed for the post but he was unsure whether the third candidate, whose name he says he forgot, did the interview as this candidate had declined for his name to be put forward for recommendation.
“The appointing authority, which is the Ministry, is working on the recommendations. I understand a letter has been written to me as the chairman, hopefully the letter will give an indication of the details as I will be collecting it this week; I have been out of the country. I just assume the appointment of the CEO for BITC has been the only outstanding matter that had to be dealt with therefore the letter could probably be about the appointment,” he said.