05 Aug 2015

Assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Mr Dikgang Makgalemele says the post of principal prosecutions counsel (D1) was advertised in local newspapers and that six applicants within the DPP and two candidates from outside responded to the advertisement. 

Answering a question on behalf of the Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Mr Makgalemele said despite the fact that none of them met the requirements of the post as stated in the advertisement, the appointing authority considered a shortlist of applications on 24 April 2014. 

He stated the appointing and promotions board, which considered the shortlisting, did not identify any applicant as being suitable for the appointment to the post. Mr Makgalemele said the appointing authority opted to use the database of unsolicited applications held by the organisation, and that it was through that option that a Zimbabwean national was identified as being the best fit for the post.

He said the officer under reference was subjected to an interview by the appointing and promotions board in December 2014, and that the board agreed that he was appointable on the basis of his interview score and his personal presentation during the interview as well as his experience as a judicial officer both in Zimbabwe and Botswana.

He explained that the latter attribute was critical for performing the difficult task of prosecuting, especially at the level of principal prosecutions.

The MP for Molepolole South, Dr Tlamelo Mmatli had asked the minister whether it was still government policy that posts at the Directorate of Public Prosecutions could only be filled by foreigners if there were no citizens with the requisite skills to fill such posts, and if so, to explain the recent appointment of a Zimbabwean national at the level of principal prosecutions counsel.

Dr Mmatli also asked the minister whether there were no citizens who were qualified to occupy that post, and whether the post was advertised to ensure that qualified citizens had the opportunity to apply.  Ends