The Leader of the Opposition, Botsalo Ntuane, has described the remarks by Botswana Defence Force (BDF), Lieutenant General Tebogo Masire, as part of incessant public mind control.
He warned that the unprecedented political pronouncements by top public officers are part of a strategy meant to eventually clamp down on the opposition.
This week, Ntuane, along with several opposition Members of Parliament, addressed a press conference to rebut statements and comments attributed the BDF commander last week.
Masire is on record criticising the opposition for making calls for a change of government. The collective opposition is not amused by Masire’s claim that opposition politicians sort to incite soldiers to revolt against government and join the public sector strike.┬á
“There will come a point when there will be a clamp down on the opposition,” he said.
Ntuane said that government is on a massive propaganda campaign to discredit the opposition and refuse to hand over power if the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) loses the elections in the next general election.
Ntuane denied charges that the opposition incited soldiers or encouraged public servants to go on a violent rampage.
“We have always been consistent in urging public sector workers on strike to conduct their affairs peacefully and we have never incited soldiers to join the strike.”
He bemoaned a newly developing trend in which top civil servants make political statements as disturbing, offering that it requires urgent action. In an attempt to contain the development, Ntuane said the opposition would engage government on the issue.
Ntuane said there was an urgent need to closely monitor events as they unfold in Botswana to safeguard a democracy which he says is under threat.
“We believe scrutiny must be put on this country, Botswana must not be removed from the International radar.”
Ntuane challenged Masire to retract his statement or resign from BDF. He said that the BDF commander is free to hold his political opinions but should not do so at the expense of the BDF.
“We challenge General Masire to retract his words and tender an apology to opposition politicians.
Should he fail to do so, we extend an invitation to him to resign his post, discard the uniform which he wears with such great honour and join active politics, his new found passion. We can assure a civilian Tebogo Masire that we will be ready for him at the freedom square,” he said.
Also commenting on the issue, MP for South East South, Odirile Motlhale, stated that it is shocking that up to now the Office of the President has not made a statement regarding remarks attributed to Commander Masire.
“His principals should have called him to order, it is clear this was an instruction from the top,” said Motlhale.
