Masisi, Khama feud must end

Mmegi Editor | Monday November 8, 2021 06:00

Masisi and Khama who are protégé and mentor respectively, have not been in talking terms, which is bizarre considering that during the transfer of power, about three years ago, the process seemed seamless and very peaceful. Khama spoke well of his successor as an intelligent and able leader, who will take Botswana somewhere.

The Khama-Masisi relationship is a strange affair in the history of Botswana and threatens to even tarnish the good name of our presidency as an institution if not dispensed of timeously. For our peace-loving nation, the development is foreign and diametrically unprecedented. It is shocking more so that even Khama has also failed to share his story with Batswana, yet he expects the nation to empathise with him.

In the Southern African region, Botswana has always been hailed as the beacon of democracy ahead of its peers. The latest developments are a shock to the world as people come to terms with the bad blood between the two statesmen.

At least, what we all know is that it was Khama who single-handedly fought for the endorsement of President Masisi to the highest office in the land amidst stiff headways from within the ruling Botswana Democratic Party ranks in Parliament.

What President Masisi owes the nation is the exact reason(s) that has(ve) broken down his relationship with his former mentor and predecessor irretrievably, as it seems. Khama’s silence on this matter as he seemingly plays the victim is not helpful either.

What is further disturbing is that it seems no amount of intervention has gotten any closer to bringing the two statesmen together to resolve what is best known to them.

When we all thought that Masisi would take advantage of this week’s Tuesday Kgotla meeting in Serowe to break the news of the source of his feud with Khama, he chose to speak in parables. Masisi could not be drawn into discussing the source of his altercations with Khama but chose to tell the nation that once details on their differences are released, “the nation will be shocked”. Shocking or not shocking, you have made your people wait for far too long and they will soon start blaming you for your silence.

Three years is too long for the nation to believe mere stories unless you go public now, more so that you are the man in charge. Already in some quarters, your silence has been misconstrued to mean abuse of office.

“If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner.”

– Nelson Mandela