Wherever one spent their long weekend, the dominating news on social media was the speech by President Masisi at the just ended Botswana Democratic Party Congress. The news got travelling twice the speed of sound; that’s Mark II in aviation language.
For those who have accused me of being a Khama hater, please read this article slowly with a sober approach and understand my point of view. Assuming that we all know the utterances that the president made about his relationship with his predecessor, it is very crucial at this stage that President Masisi should address the nation and express himself in a similar manner like he did at the BDP congress.
The man basically shared with his party followers the contents regarding his difference with former President Khama and how we have arrived at this junction as a nation. I personally think that the president erred by addressing his party followers before speaking to the nation.
President Masisi should have gone on national television and radio and shared with all of us the shenanigans. The man is better placed to know what content is for the party and that which is for the nation. In this regard he should have spoken to the nation before doing the party address.
The president has said a mouthful and what he said about the former president is quite disturbing but not surprising. The issues he raised can potentially cause strife in this country and he needs to carefully tread on them and keep the nation fully informed. It is not an issue between the two men but rather this is a matter of national interest. This is why the nation needs to know.
To summarise the whole speech that we have had an opportunity to listen to, former President Khama has all along attempted to subvert the constitution. Khama’s current behaviour is still pointing in the direction of subverting the constitution. The fact that he has vowed not to rest until President Masisi is down and out is what is called subversion of the constitution.
This country has a constitution to follow and the power transition that occurred on April Fools’ Day in 2018 was well within the parameters of our constitution. To come around and regret it publicly and pledge to contribute in the downfall of a sitting president is treasonous to say the least.
No one should take Khama for granted as he is a real existential threat to our democracy and peace in this country. I have never been a fan of this automatic power transition in Botswana. But for now that’s the law and we have to abide by it. And no one is bigger than this piece of paper called the constitution.
As a soldier when I was sworn in I pledged to protect the constitution and even after my retirement I have the obligation to do the same. At least I have a platform as in this column to express my views. It is not just a matter of expressing myself but it is still a matter of protecting the constitution with the power of my pen.
So in a matter of days and not weeks, the president should speak to the nation about the issues he raised at the BDP Congress. Beyond speaking to the nation, he must proceed to Serowe to speak to the tribe and update them with what is current about someone who claims to be their chief. Like President Masisi says; the stability of the Ngwato tribe is too important for Botswana.
In Serowe he must take along with him his minister of Local Government and Rural Development Hon Kgotla Autlwetse, who has in the past spoken to Ngwato chiefs in a different forum about the same matter. Both the president and the minister must this time around put aside their usual conciliatory approach and they must just tell the tribe that their chief is attempting to set Botswana alight with his incendiary language he often uses.
After the BDP address there was a response from Khama regarding the utterances made against him by President Masisi. Having worked with General Khama as his Staff Officer, it only took me three to four sentences to realise that that was not his handwriting.
This response was penned by someone else as there was a sense of civility in the way the letter addressed the president. Khama has not referred to President Masisi as Dr Masisi in the past, he has always chosen to call him Masisi with an air of derogatory and demeaning language.
Khama should choose to respond in the same manner if he truly would want to; use a voice recording platform so that we can authenticate that it is his personal response. Indeed he needs to respond because as former president he cannot remain silent when such serious indictment has been pronounced against his name.
Whoever has been following the unhealthy interactions between the president and his predecessor will agree that this is not healthy for the country at all. This will have to come to an end. It is unfriendly rhetoric especially for potential investors. Who will want to come and bet his money into a country that I almost descending into chaos when taking these skirmishes into account?
There is certainly an end to everything and we are all looking forward to the end of these altercations between the two men. Without vindicating Masisi, Khama has to give in and live with the status quo. What is lost is lost and the man needs to accept it and enjoy the remaining years of his life. He must accept that this country is much bigger than all of us including the Khama family.
