KISS AND MAKE UP!
There is certainly more than meets the eye in the much-talked about reconciliation project between former President, Dr Ian Khama and his successor, Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi.
Analysts believe the project may well be the works of international handlers whose mission is to save the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) from collapse at the 2024 general elections.
The whole objective to reconcile Khama and Masisi, says the theory, is the retention of the BDP in power in order for it to continue serving foreign interests.
“This invisible hand has always been there calling the shots. It has always been the one to decide who leads the country,” an analyst preferring anonymity said.
According to him, the BDP is a surrogate of the capitalist forces and he fears that the reconciliation between the President and his predecessor may have far-reaching and painful consequences for the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC).
“For instance, the UDC will lose the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) to the BDP because, the President is likely to demand of Khama to disband the BPF and have the members rejoin the ruling party individually. Ideologically BPF members are closer to the BDP than the opposition parties,” the analyst noted.
He believes that returning to Botswana and re-joining the ruling party may be a condition for reconciliation. There is a school of thought that the BPF cannot survive without Khama. Some of its members, especially those who are not from the BDP, may join other opposition parties.
“The disbanding of the BPF spells doom for the coalition which, for all intents and purposes, is a venerable spent force. BPF cadres are likely to be offered positions in the ruling party and jobs in government,” posited the analyst, who added that in his view, the BPF-UDC cooperation project was a big joke from the get-go.
“The whole thing was not genuine. What I have always observed is that the BPF leadership hardly attended UDC activities especially the pro-Khama brigade. Only a few ordinary members attended,” the analyst noted.
He does not discount the possibility that some of the BPF members may stick with the UDC or join the Botswana Congress Party-Alliance for Progressives formation. A UDC veteran is alarmed by the prospect of the BPF joining the BDP.
“They had become part of us and their departure and potential return to the BDP is a problem because they will share a lot that they know about our modus operandi,” the veteran said.
He finds it rather curious that efforts to reconcile the two have failed in the past but suddenly there is a change of tone between them. Indications are that Khama was no longer at ease in South Africa for various reasons.
According to unconfirmed reports, Khama was under pressure to reconcile since a South African civil society pressure group had offered to have him extradited to Botswana to face the music.
Secondly, Boko and Khama have, to an extent, fallen out. This is according to reports. Yet another source who is a UDC veteran believes that both Khama and Masisi are under pressure to reconcile since Masisi is worried he might lose the 2024 general election or manage a narrow escape hence the need to bring back the hitherto BDP members to boost the party’s chances of winning.
There is a school of thought that the BPF was always a double-edged sword for the UDC.
“As much as it delivered a number of constituencies in the Central District, Khama is a controversial person leading a tribal pressure group in the BPF.
“The South African government wants him out of South Africa to not damage its diplomatic relations with Botswana,” the source suggested.
BDP Secretary General Kavis Kario was non-committal when approached for comment on the reconciliation project.
“The party is not directly involved at the moment”, he said, adding that, “E santse ele kgang ya bagolo.”
However, he said they were watching the unfolding developments with “interest and we know that whatever comes out it will be for the good of the country.”