8 - ‘Makererization’: Politics, Leadership and Management at the University of Botswana from 2011-2017
Corresponding Author(s) : Christian John Makgala
Journal of Higher Education in Africa,
Vol. 15 No. 2 (2017): Journal of Higher Education in Africa
Abstract
I recently visited a friend in Soweto to pay my condolences after his wife died. While I was still in the process of greeting my bereaved friend, he said to me, “Thabo, I understand that you are the new Vice Chancellor for the University of Botswana, my condolences to you”!Professor Thabo FakoThis article examines an aspect of higher education leadership and university management through a critical appraisal of the leadership style and tenure of Professor Thabo Fako as Vice Chancellor (VC) of the University of Botswana (UB) from 2011 to 2017 and his attempts to dismantle the reforms of his predecessor. It addresses the important role played by the intersection between character, political strategy and administrative leadership in higher education reform. The article thus examines the manner in which these concurrently affect democratic and good corporate governance at university institutions, and as well the risks they pose in engendering widespread fear and institutional paralysis. It is written against the backdrop of a paper in 2004 by this VC castigating organizational restructuring undertaken by UB during that period. The article argues that state intervention in the selection and appointment of university management stalled reform and introduced a leader rendered paranoid by the selection process. ‘Makererization’ is used here to refer to the marginalization of UB by government through reduced funding and the VC’s persecution of university staff and students.
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- Anonymous, 15-21 April 2017, ‘University of Botswana: A University facing an existential and identity crises and yearning for reform’, WeekendPost.
- Balunywa, W., 2016, ‘The rise and fall of Makerere University: What you need to know’, Campus Eye, http://campuseye.ug/rise-fall-makerere-university-need-know/, accessed on 2 March 2017.
- Baputaki, C., 18 March 2011, ‘UB welcomes Professor Thabo Fako as new VC’, Mmegi. Baputaki, C., 31 March 2011, ‘Professor Bojosi Otlhogile bids farewell to UB’, Mmegi. Batenegi, O., 19 September 2016, ‘Prof Fako’s no show angers Guma’, Mmegi.
- Bothoko, P., 23 February 2017, UB’s allure to students fades -Molao. Mmegi.
- Fako, TT., c.2004, ‘Reflections on organizational restructuring and change in a Southern African University: The case of the University of Botswana’. http://www.eldis.org/go/home&id=19908&type=Document#.WMe5L_LQN5o, accessed on 20 February 2017.
- Jessop, B., 2017, ‘On academic capitalism’, Critical Policy Studies, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1080/19460171.2017.1403342, accessed on 28 November 2017.
- Johnson, A.T., and Hirt, J.B., 2011, Reshaping academic capitalism to meet development priorities: The case of public universities in Kenya, Higher Education, 61(4), 483-499. Kebaetse, S.M., Mokone, G.G, Badlangana, L. and Mazhani, L., 2016, ‘Academic staff recruitment and retention challenges at the University of Botswana MedicalSchool’, SAMJ: South African Medical Journal, 106 (7), 730-734. Keoreng, E., 28 July 2011, ‘Youngman quits top UB post’, Mmegi. Kayawe, B., 13 January 2017, ‘UB manoeuvres to fire Fako’, Mmegi.
- Magang, D., 2008, The magic of perseverance: The autobiography of David Magang, Cape Town: Centre for Advanced Studies of African Society.
- Makgala, C.J., 2018, ‘Popular Participation in the provision of higher education and restoration of historical heritage: The case of the University of Botswana logo, 1976- 2014, South African Historical Journal https://doi.org/10.1080/02582473.2018.144 3156, accessed on 10 April 2018.
- Makgala, C.J., and Gumbo, G., 2017, ‘President Festus Mogae, University of Botswana academics and public discourse in Botswana, 1998-2008’, BOLESWA Journal of Theology, Religion and Philosophy, 4(3), 117-133.
- Malema, B., 30 November to 2 December 2016, Privatization of state owned enterprises and implications for employment, conference on the labour movement’s perspective on the unemployment crisis in Botswana, organized by National Amalgamated Local, Central Government and Parastatal Workers Union, held at Tlotlo Conference Centre, Gaborone, 53-58.
- Mamdani, M., 2007, Scholars in the marketplace: The dilemmas of neo-liberal reform at Makerere University, Dakar: CODESRIA.
- Masire, Q.K.J., 2006, Very brave or very foolish?: Memoirs of an African democrat, Gaborone: Macmillan.
- Masokola, A., 29 November 2016, The mystery of UB financial crisis, WeekendPost.
- Masokola, A., 23 February 2015, UB, BIUST rivalry revealed, WeekendPost. Mmegi, 30 January 2015, UB purges professors.
- Mogalakwe, M., and Nyamnjoh, F., 2017, Botswana at 50: Democratic deficit, elite corruption and poverty in the midst of plenty’, Journal of Contemporary African Studies, 35(1), accessed 2 April 2017, http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02589001.2017.1286636, accessed on 15 March 2017.
- Mokotedi, K.R., 24 February 2017, Open letter to Prof. Fako: Your resignation is good riddance, Mmegi.
- Molomo, M.R., 2012, Democratic deficit in the parliament of Botswana, Cape Town: Centre for Advanced Studies of African Society.
- Molomo, M., and Mokopakgosi, B., 2000, Democracy in the face of a weak opposition,Pula: Botswana Journal of African Studies 14(1), 3-22.
- Mooka, Y., 17 January 2016, ‘Prof. Happy Siphambe tipped for UB top post’, Botswana Guardian.
- Mooka, Y., 29 January 2016, ‘Ex-student leader tears Prof. Fako’s leadership style apart’,Botswana Guardian.
- Nkomazana, O., Mokoena, T. Maganu, E., and Mazhani, L., 2018, ‘Training doctors for Botswana, 1966-2017, Botswana Notes and Record: A Special Issue on Botswana Notes and Records Golden Jubilee in Honour of Sir Ketumile Masire (50), 232-243.
References
Anonymous, 15-21 April 2017, ‘University of Botswana: A University facing an existential and identity crises and yearning for reform’, WeekendPost.
Balunywa, W., 2016, ‘The rise and fall of Makerere University: What you need to know’, Campus Eye, http://campuseye.ug/rise-fall-makerere-university-need-know/, accessed on 2 March 2017.
Baputaki, C., 18 March 2011, ‘UB welcomes Professor Thabo Fako as new VC’, Mmegi. Baputaki, C., 31 March 2011, ‘Professor Bojosi Otlhogile bids farewell to UB’, Mmegi. Batenegi, O., 19 September 2016, ‘Prof Fako’s no show angers Guma’, Mmegi.
Bothoko, P., 23 February 2017, UB’s allure to students fades -Molao. Mmegi.
Fako, TT., c.2004, ‘Reflections on organizational restructuring and change in a Southern African University: The case of the University of Botswana’. http://www.eldis.org/go/home&id=19908&type=Document#.WMe5L_LQN5o, accessed on 20 February 2017.
Jessop, B., 2017, ‘On academic capitalism’, Critical Policy Studies, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1080/19460171.2017.1403342, accessed on 28 November 2017.
Johnson, A.T., and Hirt, J.B., 2011, Reshaping academic capitalism to meet development priorities: The case of public universities in Kenya, Higher Education, 61(4), 483-499. Kebaetse, S.M., Mokone, G.G, Badlangana, L. and Mazhani, L., 2016, ‘Academic staff recruitment and retention challenges at the University of Botswana MedicalSchool’, SAMJ: South African Medical Journal, 106 (7), 730-734. Keoreng, E., 28 July 2011, ‘Youngman quits top UB post’, Mmegi. Kayawe, B., 13 January 2017, ‘UB manoeuvres to fire Fako’, Mmegi.
Magang, D., 2008, The magic of perseverance: The autobiography of David Magang, Cape Town: Centre for Advanced Studies of African Society.
Makgala, C.J., 2018, ‘Popular Participation in the provision of higher education and restoration of historical heritage: The case of the University of Botswana logo, 1976- 2014, South African Historical Journal https://doi.org/10.1080/02582473.2018.144 3156, accessed on 10 April 2018.
Makgala, C.J., and Gumbo, G., 2017, ‘President Festus Mogae, University of Botswana academics and public discourse in Botswana, 1998-2008’, BOLESWA Journal of Theology, Religion and Philosophy, 4(3), 117-133.
Malema, B., 30 November to 2 December 2016, Privatization of state owned enterprises and implications for employment, conference on the labour movement’s perspective on the unemployment crisis in Botswana, organized by National Amalgamated Local, Central Government and Parastatal Workers Union, held at Tlotlo Conference Centre, Gaborone, 53-58.
Mamdani, M., 2007, Scholars in the marketplace: The dilemmas of neo-liberal reform at Makerere University, Dakar: CODESRIA.
Masire, Q.K.J., 2006, Very brave or very foolish?: Memoirs of an African democrat, Gaborone: Macmillan.
Masokola, A., 29 November 2016, The mystery of UB financial crisis, WeekendPost.
Masokola, A., 23 February 2015, UB, BIUST rivalry revealed, WeekendPost. Mmegi, 30 January 2015, UB purges professors.
Mogalakwe, M., and Nyamnjoh, F., 2017, Botswana at 50: Democratic deficit, elite corruption and poverty in the midst of plenty’, Journal of Contemporary African Studies, 35(1), accessed 2 April 2017, http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02589001.2017.1286636, accessed on 15 March 2017.
Mokotedi, K.R., 24 February 2017, Open letter to Prof. Fako: Your resignation is good riddance, Mmegi.
Molomo, M.R., 2012, Democratic deficit in the parliament of Botswana, Cape Town: Centre for Advanced Studies of African Society.
Molomo, M., and Mokopakgosi, B., 2000, Democracy in the face of a weak opposition,Pula: Botswana Journal of African Studies 14(1), 3-22.
Mooka, Y., 17 January 2016, ‘Prof. Happy Siphambe tipped for UB top post’, Botswana Guardian.
Mooka, Y., 29 January 2016, ‘Ex-student leader tears Prof. Fako’s leadership style apart’,Botswana Guardian.
Nkomazana, O., Mokoena, T. Maganu, E., and Mazhani, L., 2018, ‘Training doctors for Botswana, 1966-2017, Botswana Notes and Record: A Special Issue on Botswana Notes and Records Golden Jubilee in Honour of Sir Ketumile Masire (50), 232-243.