The ongoing politicisation of the Botswana Defence Force, a process that in a way is subtly led if not facilitated by some former generals presents a big and complex security challenge for the country.
May be I should first declare my interests: I have an abiding admiration and love for the Botswana Defence Force. Growing up as a small boy, becoming a soldier was all I ever wanted. I could not meet the cut.
Years later as a journalist my love for the BDF grew more immensely, chiefly because of my observation how citizens of two democratic countries I admire – the United States and Israel revered their armies.
Notwithstanding all the other challenges that the BDF faces – and they are many and complex – politicisation is arguably the biggest, most pervasive with long term consequences that are irreparable.
The trouble is that once politicised, rolling back the process will not be easy.
By politicising the BDF, we are playing with fire – literally.
There is nothing wrong with former soldiers doing politics if they so wish.
The trouble becomes when a group of former soldiers want to involve those who are active on duty in their designs.
The politicization goes right to the core of the integrity, discipline and dignity that are so critical for the military to effectively function.
In peace times and also in war times the military is a uniting force.
Its ethos should be an inspiration to the civilians who trust in the military’s unique ability to defend them and the country.
The politicization is clearly a coordinated effort. But there is evidence of amateur hour-like planning in the whole thing.
The fact that all the rancour is playing itself out at the BDF Retired Members Association is not a coincidence.
Ultimately it is a direct outcome of an ongoing broader process to politicise the BDF.
At the forefront of the RMA dissonance is Lt General G Galebotswe, Major General Pius Mokgware and Brigadier Thulaganyo Masisi. A Masisi lawyers recently wrote a letter to distance his client from the controversy.
To be fair to the three they are not the only ones, but they form the nucleus of the discord inside that organization.
At face value General Galebotswe is aligned to the opposition Botswana National Front. General Mokgware is aligned to Alliance for Progressives. And Brigadier Masisi is aligned to the Botswana Democratic Party which is led by his younger brother, president Mokgweetsi Masisi.
It all looks simple enough.
That simplicity can however can be misleading. Inside RMA, Masisi and Mokgware are on the same camp. That brings a new intrigue.
Ramblings at the RMA have been ongoing for far too long.
They are fuelled by very senior former officers many of who continue to have a wide network of infrastructure among the serving cadre.
There is the rub.
It portends danger.
The state, it must be said is not an innocent by-stander.
The state is for a great part is using some of these retired generals as its proxies.
Lesotho remains a glaring example of what becomes of a military that has become politicised.
Once the military reaches a tipping point in that process, turning the tide becomes an impossible task.
All attempts, including by the BDF to help Lesotho soldiers to stay inside the barracks have henceforth borne no fruit.
That army has become a rag tag. Other than getting more and more into politics, there is literally no other meaningful mission they ever get focused on.
They keep wanting to be included in the political process. And if not included they force their way inside, often with bloody consequences.
That is where our politicians and retired generals are taking the BDF.
As a fast rule, a disciplined military should never second guess its civilian masters.
Yet the broad array of conditions that were systematically created by the political leadership ahead of the sacking of General Gotsileene Morake recently were clearly calculated not only to confuse his juniors but also to roil them.
That is akin to politicization.
The strategy, if one might call it that was to tarnish his military record – the only thing that matters most to a career officer and also to discredit him in the eyes of his peers and juniors alike.
His imminent sacking from the BDF was telegraphed like two years prior.
Once again as has been the case in the civil service, the toxic relationship between the current Commander in Chief and his predecessor came into play.
A lot of misinformation was created around General Morake – first it was said that he had been holding private conversations with Ian Khama – a former president and former commander of the BDF.
Then it was also circulated on social media that a lot of cash had been found at Morake’s house in Tonota. All of it clearly sponsored but patently untrue.
An impression was created that Morake was a thief unworthy of occupying a top spot among the BDF generals.
This was obviously to prepare the minds of his junior colleagues for his departure.
His deployment as Ambassador to Japan was an afterthought.
But it blended well in the deep and dark ways of politicization of the BDF.
I have not talked to Morake. But I would not be surprised if he was hurt, not so much by the sacking, which is the president’s prerogative, but by the treatment that preceded the sacking.
Ahead of the General elections there was information to the effect that that some of the soldiers were involved in some sinister plan to overthrow a legitimate government.
That information originated from intelligence sources abroad.
Morake was once again identified as a potential mastermind.
Quite remarkably, the BDF top leadership and also the political leadership did nothing to allay what was a polarizing leaks at the BDF.
I use Morake purely for illustration. But there are many other instances.
Like the ongoing slaughter of rhinos at the Okavango.
The process of antipoaching there has fallen to politics.
And the soldiers on the ground are naturally confused.
These things go on unchallenged – not by the Office of the President. And certainly not by the BDF headquarters.
It cannot be denied though that they cause confusion and also anger among professional soldiers.
How long it can go on like this, nobody knows for sure.
