"You can have any post, not the presidency"
President Ian Khama is willing to offer the retired Botswana Defence Force (BDF) Commander Lieutenant General Gaolathe Galebotswe anything that he will like to do except for the position of the president of the republic.
Immediately after the official speeches were made by speakers on the programme during the farewell dinner honouring the retired Galebotswe as well as ushering in the new commander, Lieutenant General Placid Segokgo, Khama pulled yet another stunt as he unexpectedly took to the podium to address Galebotswe off the cuff.
“I wish you all the best in your retirement Lt Gen. Galebotswe. Like I said before to you in person, I am willing to offer you anything that you will like to do other than being the president of Botswana. I am sure you still command a lot of energy that you could still dedicate to this nation,” Khama said to a rousing applause from invited guests.
It remains a matter of speculation what Galebotswe will settle for in his civilian life. His predecessors Lt General Mompati Sebogodi Merafhe and Khama joined politics, while Lt General Matshwenyego Louis Fischer is a scholar and a career diplomat. Lt General Tebogo Carter Masire has joined the corporate and business world and serves as chairman of the Board of Directors for Air Botswana among others.
For now Galebotswe, who has been doing part time farming and has different good breeds of cattle, has said that he will be going full time into farming. But, like it is said, anything is possible. The cover page of the Change of Command programme that took place on Thursday carries a telling message: “Today’s goodbye is tomorrow’s hello, so long general.” Galebotswe holds a Master of Business Administration from Demontfort University and Master of Science in National Security Strategy from National Defence University, both in USA.
Pundits argue that although Khama made the remarks in jest, he actually means it and that the ball is now in Galebotswe’s court. Khama also took a pot shot at Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, General Constantine Chiwenga who was in attendance. He said considering the long time Chiwenga has been commander, Botswana could pluck a leaf from Zimbabwe to amend its BDF Act to ensure its commanders also stay for a long time.
The event was attended by all the former BDF commanders and Lt. Gen. Fischer had travelled from Nigeria where he is serving as High Commissioner, to witness the handover of commandership from Galebotswe to Lt. Gen. Placid Segokgo, whom Khama promised full support.