Dr. Nasha ridicules Dr. Khama at rally

The war of words between President Lt. Gen. Dr. Ian Khama and former Speaker of Parliament, Dr. Margaret Nasha who was launched by the opposition Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) over the weekend at Maru-a-Pula in Gaborone has degenerated into personality attacks.

And sadly the dispute is playing out in the open public. President Khama started the ball rolling when officially opening the Botswana Democratic Party Youth Council in Mosu over the weekend.

He took a jab at Dr. Nasha, describing her as a “very ungrateful and power hungry” person who ditched her former party because it could no longer give her positions she had not earned.Responding to the attack during her well attended launch at Maru-a-Pula, Dr. Nasha said she is a qualified leader and that she worked hard for the previous positions she held at BDP and government.

From Mosu, Dr. Khama had hit out: “Mma Nasha had a career of losing elections. She lost the constituency and the BDP brought her back through a special nomination. We made her a minister and made her the first woman Speaker. Isn’t this women empowerment? I have to tell you; the problem with MmaNasha is that she only wanted top positions in government. Her ambition was to become President of this country.”

He continued: “She had long wanted to leave the party. Hopefully she would have a chance at the presidency at her new party. Let her go. Madam Speaker you can go ahead and write another book,” said Khama.But Dr. Nasha wouldn’t be cowed into silence and lashed out from the capital city saying there is nothing wrong for her to be President because she is qualified and is a citizen of the country by birth.

“Ke Motswana ka letso.  Even my friend DK understands why I am saying this. I can be the President of this country. Ke tsene sekolo nna. Ga a yare ka break ebe ke tshabela ko lwapeng,” she retorted making a comparison between her academic credentials and Dr. Khama’s.

She continued: “Gatwe are keye go kwala buka enngwe. Ee. Ke ya go e kwala, motho wa teng ekare o reela gore o itse go bala,” she said another potshot at the President who was once quoted saying he does not read books. Her longtime friend at BDP, Daniel Kwelagobe was also present at the rally.

Turning to the Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP), which was launched by President Ian Khama in Machaneng over the weekend, Nasha said the programme is not well planned and is a waste of public funds.

“The problem is that when he is supposed to educate Batswana about the ESP, he is busy talking about Mma Nasha instead of telling Batswana where the NDP 11 is,” said Nasha adding that the prorgramme should be coordinated by Ministry of Finance not the Office of the President.