BDP power struggle leaves SG isolated
The power struggle within the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) is said to have left its Secretary General, Kavis Kario an isolated man.
After putting a united front ahead of last year’s Tsabong elective congress, the Secretary General is said to have fallen out with the party president Mokgweetsi Masisi and chairman Slumber Tsogwane.
Kario is said to have tried to play power grab and got burnt. According to insiders, Kario tried to purge the Executive Secretary Reobonye Merafhe and a couple of key positions where he would place his favourite people but unfortunately it backfired.
The BDP appointed Merafhe party Executive Secretary in 2020 taking over from Ame Makoba who landed a job as private secretary to the Minister of State President, Kabo Morwaeng.
Also, in the fight is said to be the Communications and International Relations Sub-Committee chairman Kagelelo Kentse.
Sources have revealed that the fight for the control of the secretariat has also divided the committee and left it polarised. It is alleged that some members of the committee have fallen out with Kentse and are working closely with Kario.
Kentse has close ties with the party president, and is said to be supporting and pushing for Specially Elected Member of Parliament and Minister of Finance, Peggy Serame to be appointed Vice President to replace Slumber Tsogwane.
Some committee members are however said to be fighting in Tsogwane’s corner.
The fight at the Communications Sub-Committee has allegedly escalated and is prompting Kentse to take action against some of the committee members who are suspected to have leaked some confidential information. Kentse is said to have summoned Selwana Kebabonye and Kabelo Kgwarae-Mhuriro.
Last year Masisi stated during the BDP National Council in Gaborone that he has confidence in Tsogwane as he is a trusted and hardworking Vice President. However, the coming of Serame into the picture is said to have shifted things. Serame is expected to contest at Goodhope-Mabule in the coming BDP primary elections.
“Kario tried to take advantage of the sunset of the Executive Secretary. Basically, he wanted to be in a position to hire the entire top five at Tsholetsa House. This was going to help control Bulela-Ditswe where they could be able to target certain members who will be contesting. He got his finger badly burnt because the Executive Secretary reported him to the highest office”, a source disclosed.
The source added that Kario wanted to hire his own person for the Executive Secretary position as Merafhe’s contract was coming to an end. He is said to have wanted to hire for the Political office which runs the membership registration.
According to sources, heads will soon roll at the party as the leadership will be taking action.
Kario who is a former MP for Selibe Phikwe is expected to contest at Ngami Constituency. “Kario acted fast on some of these issues. He could have learnt what happened with former Secretary General Mpho Balopi. He was used and dumped just like that. Everyone knows that he worked closely with the leadership since he became the secretary general but it ended badly for him and those in his close circle within the party”, another source cautioned.
At press time, Kario had not responded to a questionnaire sent to him, while for his part, Kentse said the claims are nothing but rubbish. Early this month the BDP dismissed media reports that there is a power struggle that threatens Masisi’s succession plan.
The allegations that the BDP leadership is engaged in plotting against each other or seeking to dethrone its elected leadership without providing any substantial evidence to support the claim is evidential to the malicious intention of the article, the BDP said in a media statement.