I am not anti-Khama

Controversial Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Member of Parliament for Francistown West Ignatius Moswaane has rubbished rife allegations that he is anti-Khama.

Responding to sentiments that Khama should have promoted him following the recent cabinet reshuffle, Moswaane told The Midweek Sun that he does not have a problem with the reshuffle. “I am very happy about it because my colleagues are there,” the MP said. He said there are many things a back bencher can do and is confident that he is a good backbencher.

The MP said parliament needs strong people who can scrutinise decisions and criticise. “Khama cannot sideline me, he knows me and I am already playing an important role. It is like in a football team you can have a team of 22 people but only 11 get the green light.”

Moswaane does not understand why people say he is anti-Khama. “Ever since I worked with the President, there have been a lot of speculation about our relationship,” he said. Moswaane praised President Khama’s way of rule saying that Khama is a very consultative person who is open to constructive engagement. The BDP stalwart has had several running battles with the party. In President Ian Khama’s address at the Mmadinare BDP congress last year, when he was talking about discipline, he threatened to take action against an unnamed member of the party who had the knack to criticise the party publicly. Many people assumed he was referring to Moswaane.

“It is unfortunate that people misread the President, because after the congress I met with the President and we spoke at length and it was a fruitful meeting,” the MP said, adding that he and Khama have long found common ground.  He said that Khama is a progressive, understanding and dynamic leader who is always ready to embrace other people’s ideas.

The MP once ran for election as an independent candidate in 2009 and won after he had controversially lost to Babonye Mosalagae in the BDP primary elections. Moswaane shot to prominence in 2003 when he supported unpopular parliamentary candidate in Francistown West constituency Tshelang Masisi (the Vice President’s elder brother) against Peter Ngoma who was the Mayor at the time. It was that year that Moswaane staged a hyped campaign for Masisi when he was hospitalised in South Africa. Thanks to Moswaane, Masisi won by a huge margin.

A re-run for the primary elections between Masisi and Ngoma was called but Masisi won and Moswaane was elected councillor for Monarch South. But his long-time friend, President of Botswana People’s Party Motlatsi Molapisi, has a different opinion on Moswaane, saying he on the other hand sees the maverick MP as a fallen hero. He said that the BDP stalwart used to be a fighter.

“I do not know the kind of a person he is today. I am not in a position to say that I know this guy,” Molapisi said. He further said that Moswaane is his friend but he laments the fact that he does not have a stand. “I never even expected him to re-join the BDP as he was vocal in his opposition of the BDP style of rule He disappointed me,” BPP President said.