President Duma Boko of Botswana announced on Monday that Vice President Ndaba Gaolathe will also serve as finance minister, marking the first appointments in his new cabinet.
This decision follows a surprising election victory earlier in November, where Boko’s Umbrella for Democratic Change coalition ended nearly six decades of rule by the incumbent party.
Experts attribute Boko’s sweeping win to growing economic frustrations, particularly among younger voters.
One of Gaolathe’s immediate challenges will be to address sluggish economic growth, with the International Monetary Fund forecasting a decline to 1% this year, driven by reduced diamond output.
“We face significant economic and financial challenges. Gaolathe has a monumental task ahead to guide us through these rough and uncertain times,” President Boko stated at a press conference.
Other key appointments include an opposition lawmaker as deputy health minister and an independent as deputy agriculture minister.
The position of mining minister remains unfilled for now, a crucial role given Botswana’s status as the leading diamond producer by value.
Boko assured that additional cabinet appointments will be disclosed in the upcoming days.