A behavioral psychologist trying to find the real Ian Khama among his many postures would be spoiled for choice.
He could see a humble team player who is out of place in the cloak and dagger world of politics.
Living up to his self styled political outsider image, Khama was last year quoted in the media saying, “politics is dirty. I have always known that, and I had never had any intention of going into politics. You see, in the military, you live by the principle of ‘one for all, and all for one’. You know, as a soldier in combat all have to pull together, and do the work. When you are under attack, you can’t afford to have a non-performer, because your lives will be in danger. In politics, it’s a different game. There is a lot of self-interest. If belonging to a family, as I assume political parties are, is this dirty, it is not worth it. Politics bring out the worst in a person.”
A plot-sniffing psychologist might see a different Ian Khama: A loner who cannot tell the difference between himself and his opinion. A paranoid hawk, who will fight friend and foe for holding a dissenting view; a muckraker who thinks nothing of taking the low road against dissenting colleagues, maligning them as “power hungry”.
Khama could not rise above the BDP factions as party members stabbed each other in the back so they could steal a march up the greasy political career pole. It is widely believed that when the rival Barata-Phathi faction members would not roll quietly out of the way, while Khama and his followers advanced majestically to the top, the president decided to use some underhand methods.
A middle of the road psychologist may, however, see a weathervane, subject to any puff of hot air from his close circle of friends. Some political watchers believe Khama means well, but has been held hostage by his friends and advisers.
The many faces of Ian Khama were jostling for space this week amid claims by opposition politicians that the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) has build up a slush fund to buy opposition members of parliament as part of its fight back strategy to win back its council and parliamentary seats. The ruling party is on slippery ground after losing seven of its MPs and scores of councilors to the breakaway Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD).
BMD spokesperson told Sunday Standard this week that the BDP has been trying to induce some of their MPs to cross to the BDP with promises of money and cabinet posts. “Some of our MPs have been approached, they have been promised cabinet positions and money, but they turned down the offers. Our MPs have integrity and are not prostitutes. They are not for sale”, Pilane said.
Curiously, BDP treasurer, Satar Dada told a recent party National Council that the BDP was scrapping the bottom of its financial barrel. He asked members to dip hands into their pocket and bail out the party. The BDP is facing crumbling levels of corporate support. Donors are melting away following last year’s media expose suggesting influence peddling against their hitherto biggest donor, De Beers.
With the BDP brandishing a cheque book at opposition MPs, opposition activists were this week taking the advice of investigative journalist Bob Woodward aka “Deep Throat” and trying to follow the money. The money trail however disappears as soon as the BDP flashes its cheque book. Most simply joined the dots and a sinister outline emerged: That the BDP may be using money from the Directorate of Intelligence and Security Services as a slush fund to buy political opponents.
BDP parliamentarian last week stopped investigations into possible abuse of public funds by the Office of the President and the Directorate of Intelligence and Security Services (DIS).
The Majority BDP MPs forced parliament to suspend debate on the adoption of the Public Accounts Committee report which recommended an investigation into how P26 million, which was siphoned off the National Disaster Relief Fund to the Directorate of Intelligence Service, was used saying it has come to the conclusion that, “there must have been some element of abuse of funds”. Pilane posed a rhetoric question: “Where is the money coming from? Is it the DIS money or is the money coming from the president’s pocket?” The speculations are being given credence by reports that the Khama has in the past used the DIS to fight internal BDP battles.
Khama the moral crusader, whose buzz word is discipline, however, does not match the identikit. Sympathizers who have been sold onto his “Mr. Clean” image insist that under his leaderships dirty tricks have officially had their day in the BDP. Ruling party leaders were this week hitching their arguments on the coat tails of an upright Khama and BDP as they tried to ward off the dirty tricks allegations. “I find it unlikely and out of character for the BDP to lure people with money. If we were recruiting, what is wrong with that? We are on a membership drive, politics is about numbers”, said education Minister Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi who is masterminding the BDP spin.
Party Culture and Publicity Committee Chairperson Shaw Kgathi on the other hand said, “That’s trivia, nothing of that sort ever happens in the BDP.”
DIS Director, Isaac Kgosi on the other hand responded to the allegations with insults that cannot be printed in a family newspaper. The line minister in charge of the DIS, Dikgakgamatso Seretse dismissed the allegations as false. “If the allegations are true, there is DCEC, why don’t they report the matter so that the issue is investigated,” questioned Seretse. He accused the opposition parties of seeking to score a political point by spreading ‘lies’
The opposition claims, however, are based on a different Ian Khama: a paranoid leader who would do anything to stay in power. “We have information that they are trying to recruit from us using some very unorthodox means,” revealed the BCP’s spokesperson Taolo Lucas. Although he did not want to reveal the names of the MPs approached and what enticement was used, Lucas said that the BDP “is trying everything in the book to reclaim some measure of credibility”.
The BCP says that all its MPs who were approached turned down the BDP’s overtures. According to Lucas his party’s MPs are principled politicians who will not be tempt with money. In a separate interview, the BNF’s Moeti Mohwasa said that his party is aware that the BDP has been recruiting from its ranks “Unfortunately they have not been successful,” said Mohwasa. He also would not disclose who among BNF MPs were approached and what offers were made. “Some of our MPs have told us that they were approached,” he said. “We have full confidence in our MPs and believe all our MPs are principled and we are not fearful that anyone might live,”
For now, it is the opposition’s word against the BDP and a lot is riding on which Ian Khama shows up amid the dirty tricks debate.
