Masisi, security organs - Four years on
Innocent Selatlhwa | Monday April 4, 2022 08:40
BPS
While Masisi maintained the Commissioner of BPS Keabetswe Makgophe to date, there has always been speculation that he wanted him out. Well, it currently seems Makgophe could finally fall off. Though it was speculated sometime last year that he would be ousted, it never happened until he was suspended only recently. Makgophe has always seemed to be a good top cop until the subject of licensing ‘weapons of war’ to Khama surfaced.
He had to be the fall guy as he allegedly licensed the guns and the DIS, which is heavy on the case, is looking for none other than Khama.
Masisi’s administration has not done anything for the boys in blue to write home about. In fact, the nation has seen them now work even harder but with no rewards. The police played a crucial role in fighting the spread of COVID-19 since early 2020. They ensured that everyone moved around with a permit when it was time to; they escorted trucks into and around the country when COVID-19 hit the country’s shores.
Further, they charged people for not wearing masks and other COVID- 9 delinquencies. As if that was not enough, Masisi’s presidency experienced a number of armed robberies and smash and grab incidents, which led to police vehicles escorting cash-in-transit vehicles around the country. In the exercise, at least 10 robbers were short dead with the highlight incident being the killing of 10 suspected armed robbers in Phase II in February.
BDF
In the unfolding situation, the BDF Commander Placid Segokgo should either be a worried or happy man. But one could say he is happy as he is the only of the featured here whose chair has so far not been shaken by the President. Segokgo took the force’s plum post in 2016 and thus far has enjoyed Masisi’s stewardship as Commander-in-chief of the armed forces. According to media reports, Segokgo has always been in Masisi’s plans and was allegedly one of the first to know that Masisi intended to fire Isaac Kgosi as DIS director-general. In 2019, it was reported that Masisi had reversed Khama’s popular ‘ntlole’ project.
The project had catapulted some junior officers to higher ranks than their bosses. At the time it was introduced in 2012, a good number of diploma holders, mainly from the year 2004, moved many notches higher while their counterparts in middle management remained stuck in the same positions and same salary scales, a move that divided the army. Segokgo told his officers that the new salary structure would result in all junior officers from private to colonel shooting up regardless of their specialisation or qualifications.
DCEC
The DCEC has had the highest turnover of the appointments of director-generals, with the exit of Rose Seretse in 2017, which saw Victor ‘Bruno’ Paledi taking over before Masisi removed him and appointed Brigadier Joseph Mathambo before he was later on released to the BDF. Tymon Katlholo is now at the helm. Just like under his predecessor, Masisi has received a fair share of backlash over the independence of the organ. He has been accused of using it to fight political opponents.
However, Katlholo has denied all allegations of him protecting some subjects of investigations. The DCEC has lately been seeing attacks on its leader by pseudonym France Museveni. While it is believed Museveni is a ‘Masisi tool’, the page constantly attacks Katlholo accusing him of bias in some cases. This could spell the end of Katlholo’s rule when his contract expires.
DIS
The DIS has been the busiest of the security organs under President Masisi’s stewardship. Upon the DIS director-general Magosi assuming his position some three years ago, there were promises of transforming the agency into an accessible and respectable outfit for gathering intelligence and security. While under his predecessor, the DIS was regarded as an animal terrorising citizens. Under Masisi, the DIS’ biggest mission seems to be at all costs bringing Khama and its own founding director general, Isaac Kgosi down.
Though some members of the public view the new focus as harassment and a political strategy to thwart opponents, the DIS is convinced it is out to protect the President whose ‘life is at risk’ as well as bring criminals from the Khama administration to book. The agency’s investigations into the Khamas has led to the former President fleeing to South Africa.
In its own words, “since his ascendency as director-general in 2018, Brigadier Magosi has successfully opened the directorate to its stakeholders and built relationships that promote regular access to many of its services.
This can be vouched for by, amongst others, journalists as well as ordinary members of the public who continue to access the directorate without inhibition. While the directorate understands that it will always attract scrutiny due to the nature of its work, it continues to carry out its services diligently and according to requirements of the Intelligence and Security Service Act (2008) and other laws of Botswana.”
BURS
After Segolo Lekau, who acted for two years at the helm was displaced, Jeanette Makgolo, a former BURS Board member was appointed to the top seat. To date, she has not yet stamped her authority. Makgolo seems to be having it tough as some of her senior employees are allegedly baying for her blood stating that she is not the right person for the job.
Meanwhile, BURS has increased some taxes amongst them VAT which was raised to 14%.
This is despite tax experts and BURS insiders claiming that if collection was intensified, there would be no need for any escalations as many tax evaders currently walk free.