In 2010 we advised members of the BDPs’ Barataphati faction, who were being persecuted by the then party leader, Ian Khama, to exit the BDP and form their own party. We advised that such a party should then form an alliance with established opposition parties for the 2014 general election. They listened and had it not been for the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) deciding to go it alone in the 2014 election, the opposition collective of Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) would have romped to power in that election. Today, we also advise Masisi to rally his troops and opt for what we call Domexit (exiting Domkrag) and form his own party.
What Masisi and his supporters should understand is that while the constitution of the BDP makes the party a people’s project, unfortunately, for decades now the practice in the party has been that the party and government are Ian Khama’s inheritance or estate from his father, the late founding president, Seretse Khama, to use for personal amusement. Tragically, Ian Khama has understood things this way and he is doggedly determined to have his way at all costs, including going down with both the party and country, if possible. His resolve is well in line with the Setswana saying that ‘moseka phofu ya gaabo ga a swe lentswe’, loosely translated meaning that ‘when one fights for his property or inheritance he does not give up the fight’.
