Botswana’s foreign service is now hollowed by years of overuse of political appointments

Sunday Standard Botswana’s foreign service is now hollowed by years of overuse of political appointments Over the recent past too many wrong people have gotten appointed as High Commissioners and Ambassadors. Such misplaced appointments have been going on for a very long time – with despicable consequences. The appointments are a result of subordinating strategic foreign policy interests to partisan and political patronage by those in charge. Quite predictably, these […] The post Botswana’s foreign service is now hollowed by years of overuse of political appointments first appeared on Sunday Standard and is written by Spencer Mogapi

Aug 10, 2026 - 18:10

Sunday Standard

Botswana’s foreign service is now hollowed by years of overuse of political appointments

Over the recent past too many wrong people have gotten appointed as High Commissioners and Ambassadors. Such misplaced appointments have been going on for a very long time – with despicable consequences.

The appointments are a result of subordinating strategic foreign policy interests to partisan and political patronage by those in charge.

Quite predictably, these wrongful appointments have weakened the foreign service and over time rendered it unfit for purpose.

Membership of the party in power has often mattered more than appropriate qualifications and experience in diplomacy.

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