Cabinet ministers defend Masisi against Khama

Three cabinet ministers on Wednesday launched fresh attacks on the disgruntled former President of Botswana, Lt Gen Ian Khama, criticizing his relentless efforts to tarnish President Mokgweetsi Masisi's reputation by making accusations to international human rights institutions.

The trio of Kabo Morwaeng (State President), Lemogang Kwape (Foreign Affairs), and Kagiso Mmusi (Defence and Security) addressed the implications of Khama's actions on Botswana's standing and responded to a recent dossier circulated by the former President that has gained traction.

The cabinet ministers address press conference, attended by both local and international journalists, aimed to address “matters of national interest”, particularly the unwarranted attacks on Botswana and its government by the ex-president.

MORWAEENG ON KHAMA’S ATTACKS

Leading the address, Morwaeng explained the reasons behind the fallout between the two presidents, revealing that it stemmed from Masisi's refusal to appoint Tshekedi Khama as Vice-President.

According to Morwaeng, Khama initiated the feud because his desire to make his brother the next president of Botswana was not fulfilled.

"All the reasons he is stating, telling the world, are incorrect. This is the root cause of the fallout," boldly stated Morwaeng.

He disclosed that Khama was dismissed by Masisi from the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) due to indiscipline, as indicated in a letter delivered to him.

"It is on record that before April 2018, he demanded to remain the president of BDP while Masisi remained the president of the country. He even instructed the Secretary General of the party in 2018 to seek legal opinion. Unfortunately, two opinions stated that it could not happen, and Khama was disappointed," he explained.

Morwaeng added that Khama refused to step down from the presidency and insisted on being the face of the party and leading the campaign during the 2018 general elections, despite the BDP's stance that Masisi should be the face of the campaign as the sitting president.

Khama also expected to be consulted by Masisi on cabinet appointments, and when Masisi appointed the current Vice President [Tsogwane], without consulting him, he became displeased, because he believed that the president was just his "ball boy."

Morwaeng further revealed that Khama attempted to halt investigations into corruption allegations against him by law enforcement agencies, and he desired to maintain certain privileges he enjoyed as a president, including access to aircraft.

"Clearly, the former President Khama cannot come to terms with the fact that he is no longer in power. He struggles to fit into the democratic ideals of a retired statesman and democrat. He subjected the nation to iron-fist misrule during his tenure, where freedom of speech and expression were nonexistent. That is why he formed a political outfit, the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF)," Morwaeng explained.

He emphasized that Khama leads the BPF because he wants to regain power, and even if the opposition wins the election, those in power will merely be his puppets.

KWAPE ON THE EFFECTS OF KHAMA’S ACTION ON BOTSWANA’S RELATIONS

In his role as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kwape expressed concern about the negative impact of Khama's actions on Botswana's international relations, particularly with South Africa.

"Botswana has been known as a strong and trustworthy advocate of democracy and the rule of law in the international arena," Kwape stated.

He emphasized that for someone who held the highest position in the country to disparage Botswana, both domestically and abroad, undermines the hard work of his predecessors in building strong bilateral and multilateral relationships.

"We dedicated significant effort and made sacrifices to forge these relationships while South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Mozambique were under hostile regimes. Our credentials in democracy, the rule of law, and the safety and security of Batswana are recognized by independent international organizations," he added.

 Kwape highlighted the concern that Khama is utilizing the country's resources for his actions, and posed a question to the international journalists, asking how they would respond if a former president in their respective countries behaved similarly.

He expressed disappointment that Khama's actions are jeopardizing the progress made over many years and undermining the stability not only of Botswana but also of the African continent as a whole.

MMUSI RUBBISHES EXTRA-JUDICIAL ACCUSATIONS MADE BY KHAMA

In response to the recent circulating dossier by Khama, which accused President Masisi of involvement in extra-judicial killings, Minister of Defence and Security, Mmusi, refuted the allegations.

"Between 2008 and 2018 [during Khama’s presidency], we witnessed cases of extra-judicial killings where security agents were sentenced but later pardoned by the former president [Khama]. I want to assure the nation that we are fully committed to ensuring the safety of this country," stated Mmusi.

He highlighted the rise in crime following the Covid-19 pandemic in 2022, which included incidents such as ATM bombings and cash-in-transit heists, as a challenge that faced Botswana, and that there have been efforts to respond appropriately.

"Regrettably, during these operations, there were two incidents involving the security agencies and the perpetrators. On February 23, 2022, a money vehicle was targeted, and when the alarms were triggered, our security agents responded accordingly. Unfortunately, in Phase 2, Gaborone, 10 individuals lost their lives that day," Mmusi explained.