The former president of Botswana leaves the ruling party in rank with his ex-ally

GABORNE (Reuters) – Former Botswana President Ian Khama resigned from the ruling party on Saturday as the political quarrel continued with the succession of his hand-picked successor, threatening to split the ruling party. the country since independence, in 1966.

Khama handed power to his deputy Mokgweetsi Masisi, who was then a member of parliament last year, after ten years presiding over the diamond-rich country of southern Africa. He remains an influential figure of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP).

But Masisi, the only third person outside the Khama political dynasty to rule Botswana since Britain's independence, has clashed several times with his former ally since coming to power.

Their last disagreement was on Masisi's decision to lift the suspension of the big game hunting imposed by the Khama government in 2014.

Khama said at a meeting Saturday in the village of Serowe, in the north-east of the country, that he was heading from BDP to the opposition alliance Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) ), before the general election of October.

"I came here to tell you that I am cutting ties with the BDP because I do not recognize this party anymore. It was a mistake to choose Masisi as my successor. I will now work with the opposition to ensure that the BDP loses its power in October, "said Khama.

Khama served as chairman for up to two terms before resigning in a pre-established succession that required him to cede power to his deputy.

In the 2014 general election, the BDP failed for the first time to obtain an absolute majority as the country struggled to make its troubled economy less dependent on the sale of diamonds.