BHCTTWU Urges Masisi, Khama To End Feud
Chakalisa Dube | Monday December 13, 2021 11:41
The president of BHCTTWU Phologolo Ntswetswe expressed worry that the ongoing ‘unhealthy’ public dispute between Masisi and Khama is causing serious national and international damage to the country. He was giving his address at the union’s elective congress in Palapye on Saturday.
“This is not healthy at all and President Masisi has more responsibility to stop this toxic dispute as he is in the driving seat,” he said.
According to Ntswetswe, what is even more worrying is that national resources are now being directed towards the Khama-Masisi battle.
Masisi’s relationship with Khama turned sour immediately after he (Masisi) ascended the presidential seat in 2018 and there is little to suggest that tension between the two men will come to an end or ease soon. Security agents have in recent weeks raided the homes of the former president saying they were in search of unlicensed weapons. They have on several occasions arrested and launched court cases against Khama’s right-hand man and former Directorate of Intelligence and Security boss, Isaac Kgosi.
The cause of the tension between the two men remains speculation. Some allege that the tension emanated from the fact that Masisi did not entertain some of Khama’s post-presidency desires.
Just after taking over, Masisi reversed some of Khama’s initiatives and dismissed some of the senior government officials who formed an integral part of the Khama regime. He also restricted some of Khama’s benefits and privileges. On his part, Khama denies doing anything wrong to Masisi and by extension his regime.
Just like many stakeholders have alluded to before, BHCTTWU warned that the Masisi-Khama fight might escalate to a point where it will cost some people their lives.
“The madness must stop at all costs before it degenerates into civil war. Batswana want jobs, good education, good health, water, electricity, good standard of living, not petty partisan politics,” Ntswetswe said.
“Worse, for the first time in Botswana history, the nation is now been divided into North and South, aligning with the two leaders.”
Trade unions such as the Botswana Federation of Public, Private and Parastatal Sector Unions and the country’s opposition parties have on several times called on Masisi and Khama to man up and engage in meaningful dialogue to end their differences.