Khama endorses BPF candidate for Serowe West by-election

Can former President and founder of Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF), Dr. Ian Khama’s truce help his party to retain the Serowe West constituency parliamentary seat left vacant by the departure of his younger brother, Tshekedi Khama?Last week Khama pulled yet another of his tricks as he changed heart and endorsed the party’s man of the moment - Onalepelo Kedikilwe, describing him as the most suitable candidate to contest for the Serowe West constituency by-election under his party colours.There has been an uneasy relationship between the Khama family, their followers and the BPF President, Biggie Butale for some time, and this temporary truce offered by Khama could not have come at a better time than today, Friday 30th June 2023, when the party’s warring factions are back in court before Justice Michael Motlhabi to decide who has the right to lead BPF.A fortnight ago, Motlhabi gave Butale a sigh of relief by ordering that the matter is urgent and the same be treated as deserving of urgency and the rules of the court insofar as they relate to time limits, service of process and other related matters, be dispensed with.Part of the order reads, "a rule nisi be and hereby issued calling upon the respondents or any party acting through them and, or on their instructions, to show cause on the 30th June 2023 at 08:30 hours or as soon as thereafter as counsel may be heard why his orders should not be made final and absolute."Immediately after this order, Butale’s administration conducted the primary elections contested by seven aspirants and Kedikilwe came out victorious.Khama - who is on a self-exile in South Africa and has made a decision not to come back until his former ally, President Dr. Mokgweetsi Masisi is out of office- allegedly invited Kedikilwe to visit him and his family last week.In this case however, the winner is BPF as factional members of the embattled party are currently facing each other in court subsequent to a decision by a faction loyal to Khama to organise a clandestine meeting in South Africa where they took a decision to suspend Butale, as well as appoint Jwaneng – Mabutsane legislator, Mephato Reatlile as acting president.Politically, the undisputable fact is that Butale reigns supreme over the rest as demonstrated by the fact that he took the bull by the horns during the turbulent times, taking a bold step to ensure that the party primary election for the constituency at stake is held timeously and producing a democratic candidate in Kedikilwe. This he did at a time when Khama had publicly pronounced that if his younger brother and former area legislator Tshekedi is not allowed to contest, then nobody will, instead he himself will be the party candidate.Having realised that Butale is not a pushover, Khama pulled yet another ace to show he still has not only control, but also command in the central district by summoning Kedikilwe to make a one-day round trip to Johannesburg where he gave him a golden handshake.Having successfully managed to meet with Kedikilwe and assured him of his support, further emphasising the desire to retain the constituency, it is now a foregone conclusion that Khama is likely to repeat what he did last week in Palapye when he made a last-minute campaign for the UDC council candidate for Mmaphula ward during the party’s final rally.Through a virtual call, Khama appealed to prospective voters to cast their valued votes for the UDC candidate.In an interview with Botswana Guardian, Member of Parliament for Serowe South Leepetswe Lesedi and Kedikilwe's campaign manager confirmed that indeed Kedikilwe travelled to Johannesburg accompanied by one councillor - where he met with the Khama family.He told this publication that Kedikilwe informed him that all that Khama wanted was to meet with him face to face and congratulate him, as well as assure him of his family's support.Khama told Kedikilwe to inform Batswana and in particular the Serowe West constituents that he is well, healthy and will come back home one day.

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Khama endorses BPF candidate for Serowe West by-election