In an election cycle that has claimed the scalps of too many former MPs, former Sefhare/Ramokgonami MP, Dorcas Makgato, is among the few that came out of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) primary elections unscathed. In the general election, she will officially be going head to head with the man who beat her in the 2019 general election and is also seeking re-election (Dr. Kesitegile Gobotswang of the Botswana Congress Party) as well as well as Shadrack Baaitse of the Umbrella for Democratic Change. Unofficially, she will be facing another and more formidable opponent: former president and Bangwato kgosi, Ian Khama. However, circumstances of the 2024 general election are vastly differently from those of 2019.
For the entire duration of Khama’s administration, Makgato was a minister, first as an assistant minister and later became full minister. In line with global political tradition that requires ministers to defend their principals, Makgato defended Khama for the entire duration that she was in his cabinet. However, in continuing such tradition under President Mokgweetsi Masisi, she collided with Khama and in the process, made a serious misstep that will forever haunt her.
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