The feud between President Mokgweetsi Masisi and his predecessor, former President Ian Khama, has escalated to the naming of one of the country’s iconic infrastructure.
The rivalry between Masisi and Khama, has resulted in Botswana’s World Athletics champion Isaac Makwala being caught in the middle.
During Khama’s days in office, a Cabinet decision was made to name a stadium in Tutume after Makwala.
Member of Parliament for Nkange, Dr Nevah Tshabang feels the government has issues with 2017 World Athletics solo runner, Isaac Makwala.
The issue emanates from Makwala Stadium which the government seems not to recognise. There are claims that the ‘Khama aspect’ is now being used to derail “what Makwala legitimately worked hard for,” opined Tshabang. The legislator is also of the view that politics is being brought “in honest issues where politics should be put at bay.”
Khama had assured his former Cabinet and the nation that Makwala will be honoured and Tutume stadium will be named after him.
According to Tshabang, initially there were 10 mini stadia to be built across the country but when visiting Tutume, former President Khama promised to build another one in honour of Makwala and the stadium would be called Makwala Stadium.
Tshabang observed that: “The people of Tutume know that the facility is called Makwala stadium but the government does not recognize that. We have to go back to the people of Tutume to consult them on the way forward to make determination on the stadium name”.
When answering a question in Parliament from Tshabang who had wanted the Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development (MYSC) to update parliament on the progress of Makwala stadium, Tumiso Rakgare, did not refer the facility as Makwala stadium but Tutume stadium.
This resulted in Tshabang feeling that the government has issues with Makwala. The Telegraph sought to know from him if government has rescinded its position on naming the stadium after the 2017 world Athletics championships solo runner.
“There was never a consultation with anyone about it. They have an issue with Makwala,” said Tshabang. This publication had also wanted to know whether the traditional and political leadership in the area had been consulted on government’s decision to allegedly climb down on naming the Tutume facility after Makwala.
According to questions before Parliament, Tshabang had asked the minister whether he is aware that there are delays in the construction of the Makwala stadium, and the material being used is substandard.
“Indeed our ministry is aware of the delays in the on-going Tutume Community Sport Facility project. The delays of the project commencement from its onset were caused by community disagreements arising from the site location,” said Rakgare. He also added that “The issue was later resolved and the actual commencement of construction was on the 18th November 2021 with phase one, which comprises of boundary wall, ticket booths, dressing rooms and ablution blocks.”
The minister denied that substandard material is being used in construction of the facility. The works are expected to complete before end of June 2023.
Tshabang’s questions presented in Parliament had not mentioned Tutume stadium but only Makwala stadium.
