Boko denies claims DIS secured UDC’s 2024 election victory
President Advocate Duma Boko has finally broken the silence on claims that he revealed that if it was not for the Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS) and its Director General, Rt Brigadier Peter Magosi, his party would not have attained state power.
Boko has rubbished the claims, arguing that the victory by Umbrella for Democratic Change was borne out of the hard and strategic work executed by the party leadership and its foot soldiers.
DIS has remained tight-lipped on claims of alleged interference in the 2024 general election.
President of the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) and Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Dumelang Saleshando, made the damning allegations that upon the UDC victory in the 2024 general election, President Boko revealed that if it was not for Magosi, the UDC would not have attained state power.
Saleshando, who claimed that he did not ask any further questions on the matter, said the answer came about when he asked the head of state what his plan was about the DIS and Magosi. According to Saleshando, these questions came about because he knew the UDC's stand on DIS and Magosi before the elections.
At the weekend Botswana National Front Leadership Forum in Francistown, Boko said it was not true that he uttered such words. He contended that the UDC delivered its own victory.
According to the President, they won the elections because they had sensitised the electorate about the shenanigans that were being administered in the running of the elections.
He told the meeting that it was through the Madibelatlhopho, the courts and demonstrations that they sent panic to those who had been involved in underhanded tactics during general elections.
The DIS has remained mum on whether it has in any way taken part in the 2024 general election, and if it did, what was the scope of the work and if it fell within its mandate.
Since its formation, the UDC has expressed discontent about the DIS. The coalition, led by Boko, has never minced its words about the DIS being rogue and a law unto itself.
It accused the DIS of being heavily involved in the rigging of national elections. The UDC took things to another level post the 2019 general election when it petitioned the court on the grounds that the elections were rigged and the DIS was involved.
The tone of the UDC has, however, changed post the 2024 general election. Instead of the promise of dismantling the agency, the administration has indicated that it will be looking into amending the laws that govern the DIS.
Saleshando told the press that he had to share with the public some of the things that Boko said, as he (Boko) continues to share piecemeal discussions they held privately.
He said it is time the president revealed everything and not only focus on what is beneficial to him as he pushes for the establishment of the Constitutional Court.