Beware of civil war – analyst

Khama thinks this country is his business

Divisions within the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) have reached fever pitch and members of Parliament are now using the chance offered to them to meet the address of the state of the nation ( SONA) to show to whom they pay allegiance between Khama and President Masisi.

There are two factions, one of which belongs to Masisi and the other to former president Ian Khama.

The Khama faction reportedly threatened to overthrow Masisi and BDP secretary-general Mpho Balopi.

DANIEL CHIDA, a staff member of Voice, spoke with lecturer and political badyst at the University of Botswana, Leonard Sesa, to better understand what is really going on.

Sesa also addresses the consequences of such a development if left unabated.

Q. Let's talk about the divisions of the PDE. What could be the cause?

There are problems in a gentleman's agreement where Masisi is told to appoint the brother of former president Tshekedi Khama as vice-president, but when he took office he appointed the person Of his choice. He did not stop there; He subsequently fired Khama's ally, Isaac Kgosi, former head of DISS, and redeployed some of Khama's badociates.

He was right to do that because he wanted the people he thought were able to lead the country to take over.

Whoever will come, even if it were to be tomorrow, should be free to reshuffle the cabinet and carry out staff transfers.

If everyone could support Masisisi, things would come into place, he has his own style of work.

The problem is that some fear that the corrupt practices in which they are engaged are exposed.

For example, we learn that the DISS returned some of the money from the National Petroleum Fund.

The former president also wants to stay in power.

Why would Khama choose a vice president for Masisi?

He was trying to find a way to stay in power.

It is shocking for Khama to find herself powerless, having tasted power at an early age.

He thinks this country is where he is thanks to his father's work, but the truth is that Sir Seretse Khama did not, by himself, make this country what it is today.

It was a collective leadership effort at the time. In South Africa, the Mandelas are present, but they do not seek to retain their power.

Khama thinks this country is their family business.

He was given a lot of power at a young age as deputy commander of the BDF at age 24.

Masisi foiled Khama because as a former soldier he did not realize that Masisi had an independent spirit.

He can not believe and accept that he has been overwhelmed.

The other aspect is that the soldiers do not give up power easily, look no further than Lesotho.

Q. The question is now before Parliament. Why do you think the MPS takes sides?

Members act out of frustration.

Moiseraela Goya attended a meeting at which he had been invited not to attend. Last week it was also Prince Maele who was present.

Clearly, you can see that there is a big problem. Maele is hurt by the treatment he suffered because he was sacked from the Cabinet because of allegations.

But since he was dropped, there has been no communication between him and him and I think he's decided to talk.

He sees that there is no working relationship between them.

The other thing is the division between the north and the south; those in the north line up with Khama who is hiding under the Kgosikgolo beacon.

Thus, Khama will continue to circulate in the north using kgotla under the pretext of being a Kgosikgolo.

He tried it in Mogoditshane and looked at what happened to Tshepang Mabaila and Bobirwa. We did not expect a recovery there, but it's because of Khama's interference.

Some of the deputies who are mobilizing behind Khama risk being suspended. An escape will be found. They will be summoned to a hearing and will eventually be struck by a suspension.

Q. If it does not stop, what will happen?

I predict a civil war, tribalism has fueled a lot of things in Nigeria and if we do not pay attention, we go there.

It is up to the Serowe and Moshupa elders to develop strategies to unite the two.

We will probably see families from both villages running away, even when it comes to marriages.

Other people who can play the role of mediator are the heads of state close to both; do not send Carter Morupisi as there would be fireworks.

Immediate intervention is necessary because we do not know what they (Khama and Kgosi) foresee and Botswana may suffer for things they do not know.

Q. Your last message?

I want Khama to remember her words when former Presidents Ketumile Masire and Festus Mogae approached her to complain about her reshuffle and her leadership style.

The two men had to wait for two hours and when he finally arrived he told them that their time was up and that it was time to run the country.

I just wish he could remember it and give it a chance.

We will get used to his leadership style in the same way that we are used to