Masisi, Khama should calm down

Mmegi Editor | Monday July 25, 2022 06:00

It was the last one and Maharaj Conference Centre was packed to the brim. It was Ian Khama’s last he attended as president and he said all the sweetest things about his then successor to be, Mokgweetsi Masisi, promising that Masisi was the best candidate to take after him.

Fast forward, four years later, Masisi at the same platform, same venue now as President ‘breaks the silence’ and launches missiles at Khama.

It would seem like this is what Khama has been looking for as he made his intentions clear to respond to Masisi in instalments to address all issues he raised. The feud between the country’s ‘two secret bearers’ has escalated to unprecedented level as even state secrets could be laid bare in the process.

It is our view that the two should tread carefully and understand that the country is above them. We thus call for restraint from the two political leaders as exposing state secrets could throw the country into turmoil.

While the rift has been going on since prior to the 2019 general elections, it was only at the BDP Council over the weekend where Masisi decided to share his side of the story. Masisi, who has always said he would not speak about their feud with Khama in his absence, was recorded in a closed session at the gathering of BDP leaders from across the country.

Masisi went for a kill as he blasted Khama for wanting to control him even after retiring. He alleges that the main reason for the fallout was that Khama had wanted him to appoint his brother, Tshekedi Khama, as vice president. Whatever the truth is, this is a matter not worth destabilising the country and for the two be exposing secrets while under oath.

Khama has not taken kindly to Masisi’s accusations and blasted back with a scathing response in the form of a letter. The first truth that the nation is now accustomed to according to Khama is that “Masisi never speaks the truth and there seems to be no end to his dishonesty!”

The former president dismisses Masisi’s allegations and promises that going forward he would address individual allegations levelled against him by Masisi. It would seem Khama has been waiting for the moment for Masisi to say something, well armed with responses for his predecessor.

Both leaders have spoken out of how they value peace and tranquility. It is, therefore, only right that in fighting political battles, they consider the country. It does not look good to have the fighting leaders name drop senior civil servants and regional leaders amongst others making them part of the feud. Thus would make it difficult for any intervention.

We call on Batswana to condemn the two leaders and call for calm. We have only one Botswana and we do not want any political armageddon.

Today's thought

''Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.''

-Oprah Winfrey