Guma accuses Khama of bullying, tribalism
Sharon Mathala | Friday March 31, 2023 14:56
But, Khama has dismissed issues raised by Guma as just figment of his imaginations. Khama says Guma is the one who is power hungry. On his way out of the BPF, Guma says his resignation came after a heated national executive committee (NEC) meeting recently.
According to him, the meeting had three agenda items.
At the meeting, which was chaired by the party president Biggie Butale, commenced a complaint document against the party’s patron, former state president Khama and two other NEC members was submitted by Butale. Guma says as Butale was reading out the complaint letter he then mentioned that action must be taken against Khama and two other NEC members.
“The BPF president felt that the patron was undermining his authority.
Khama then blasted and attacked Butale. He did not have kind words for Butale as he used abusive words and tones against Butale, it was so bad,” Guma said. Guma said he attempted to intervene, and things went from bad to worse to a point where there was even a physical fight between some members of the BPF NEC. He said he then indicated to the party his intention to resign. He now claims the BPF has no policies or directions. “I am not one for politics of tribalism.
If you don’t agree with that, Khama is being wrongfully persecuted you are not a BPF. That is the only thing they stand for. It is all about Khama. No policy, no direction. Frankly speaking, when I came in there was not even an office, they only existed in a WhatsApp group,” Guma stated. Asked why he went back to the BPF that is led by Khama who essentially did not make his life easy at the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), Guma answered: “I have always understood a patron to be just that and not a leader of the party.
I was not going back to him, the constitution of the BPF is very clear, his role is purely advisory. I think in his own view he saw himself as the leader.” Guma further said Khama is power hungry and refuses to accept that he is no longer in power. “Whatever happens, it has to be him and at all costs. I never thought he would see himself as the party leader but he sees himself as the de facto president of the party.
He loves power at all costs. That is what he wanted; he talks about the constitution and the rule of law. What constitution?" wondered Guma. He accuses Khama of being power hungry. "It is all about him. He is regretting why he left the presidency of the country. He wants presidency at all costs.” The controversial politician further blasts the former president: “He is a paramount chief, he sits there and looks at this land from Dibete all the way to Gweta, 600km, bigger than Swaziland.
He sees it as his land, his people. He has grown in power, he grew from the State House, army, Vice President, president and all of sudden do nothing, it is traumatic isn’t it? It is power, try and deny that is exactly how he feels.” Asked to comment if he has changed his stance on removing President Mokgweetsi Masisi from power, Guma responds: “He (Khama) wants to unseat President Masisi but Masisi can only be removed by an election process not by a revolution. For the first time in history, the BDP had a break away party during whose rule? The BDP had a break away because of him. What right does he think he can actually lead? He won’t stop , he won’t stop, this has got nothing to do with Masisi, it is him.” He further refuted claims that he has been sent to destabilise the BPF. He added that he has never met or spoken to the President since he returned to Botswana. Taking a punch at Khama, Guma said Khama should come back to Botswana to face his law suits.
Asked if Khama was not helping the party financially, Guma responded, “Ever since I came, I have not seen it. I don’t want to lie. Maybe he is doing it in a different way. I haven’t seen, maybe by buying Kgosikgolo T-shirts, I don’t know. Most of the time the party funding comes from membership cards plus members contribute in many ways, plus councillors and MPs make their monthly contributions. There is no individual who can say he is funding the party.” Asked on his political future, “I have left the BPF, not the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC). I will remain in the UDC as an ordinary member. UDC may in its own wisdom deploy me where they feel, I will look into it but as of now I have no ambitions for any office.” Asked if he would ever return to the BDP, Guma dismissed this. Asked if he still believes the opposition will win the next election, he commented: “I believe in the next election. It is going to go down to politicians per area, candidates and who can articulate issues better on the ground.” In his response, former president Khama who seems not amused by Guma’s statements said he (Guma) should provide evidence in all the areas he accuses him.
Responding to what exactly happened at the heated NEC meeting recently, Khama refused to address this and preferred to say: “Please, direct that question to the secretary-general or his deputy as they are the only ones authorised to release such information. I am not aware of any letter that came from the Francistown region about myself.” On the statement that he was perpetuating tribalism, the BPF patron Khama said if that is what Guma had said he could only respond if details and evidence can be provided. Guma has claimed that Khama is power hungry and the former president only preferred to say: “Again, if that is what he said, then I am as power hungry as he is. What is it that I am refusing to let go of as I am only a patron at the moment and never been president of BPF to be able to hang on to that? The national congress is where elections are held. It is provided for in the BPF constitution and is not any individual’s prerogative to decide on.” Khama also emphasised that he still intends to run for the BPF presidency. Commenting on this week’s suspension letter to his brother, BPF SG, Tshekedi Khama, councillor Vuyo Notha and Robert Mariba, Khama says the letters of suspension were all unconstitutional. Asked if he feels BPF president Biggie Butale has betrayed him, he says: “I have no feelings at all on the matter.” On whether Batswana can still trust the BPF with their votes Khama pointed out: “I can understand why the question is asked. It is my hope that any trust lost in the BPF will be restored very soon.”