Masisi: The disputed appointment
Ryder Gabathuse - PAULINE ROD SMITH | Monday July 14, 2025 15:17
The last smile: Khama anointing Masisi for the highest office in the land FILE PIC
At midnight on March 31, 2018, former President Ian Khama officially relinquished State power following the completion of his second five-year term at the helm of Southern Africa’s diamond-rich and politically stable country. The inauguration of Masisi, handpicked and anointed by Khama, was to many a continuation of an established culture of orderly and peaceful transfer of authority from one hand to the other that Botswana is renowned for.
But, much later in the course of Masisi’s presidency, the country and the world learnt with shock and disbelief that the political transition was not as seamless as it was initially pronounced. The public came to know that Khama’s anointing of Masisi did not enjoy universal acceptability within Khama’s Cabinet and senior party cadre.
The protest from the Cabinet in particular was anchored on the belief that Masisi was ‘inexperienced’ and politically immature to navigate the affairs of government. It will be remembered that Khama, just like his predecessor Festus Mogae-did not honour seniority when choosing a successor. Seasoned, much more mature and experienced contenders in the mould of Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi, Nonofo Molefhi and Tshekedi Khama were relegated into the background while Masisi was catapulted into the centre. Pockets of resistance waged by elements within and outside the Cabinet did not shake Khama, indicating that he felt he had chosen the right man for the job.
As subsequent developments would show, Khama’s sole decision to stick with Masisi amidst protest from colleagues in Cabinet was a choice which he would later rue and could be adjudged as the worst political miscalculation he ever made in his political career. The two brothers in arms would later become the worst of enemies. Mind you, Khama had even wanted to commit lawmakers to duly endorse his choice of a VP through a non-secret poll, which was defeated at both the country’s high court and the court of appeal, but Khama’s choice was endorsed, anyway.
In politics, as they say, everything is fluid. The system of permanent alliances or permanent adversaries has no place in the realm of politics. The relationship between Khama and Masisi quickly attested to that.
Masisi would begin his work like a house on fire. Before he could even announce the big fallout with his mentor, signs of a departure from the past were visible. It would appear Masisi had hatched a master plan to purge Khama loyalists from the government in order to stamp his authority. None of Khama’s known friends made it to Parliament under the special nomination dispensation in 2019.
Masisi picked the late Kgotla Autlwetse from Gammangwato, Phildah Kereng from Gamalete, Unity Dow from Kgatleng, Peggy Serame from Borolong and Beauty Manake from Bobirwa.
Of the six, Kgotla Autlwetse, a Mongwato and a subject of Khama, was to play a leading role in castigating and disparaging Khama. He was also used to break up the vast GammaNgwato territory by loosening off areas that were loyal to the Central District Council by promoting them as full council districts, a very expensive exercise that might have cost the government a fortune. This also marked a long battle between Autlwetse and the GammaNgwato chieftainship.
In what appeared to be a direct confrontation of Khama, his close ally Isaac Kgosi was not only unceremoniously dismissed from the most powerful position of Director General of the Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS) in May 2018 but Masisi would a year later unleash the might of the DIS against Kgosi and Khama himself.
While returning from an overseas trip in January 2019, the once-revered and feared founding leader of the DIS was publicly humiliated when he was arrested Hollywood style at the Sir Seretse Khama International Airport. Authorities said he was under investigation for a charge of tax evasion. The arrest was to trigger a story of unrelenting and unending prosecution and persecution of Kgosi, his family and close associates. From the time of his first SSKIA arrest, the Masisi regime was to assume the character of a notorious tormentor of Kgosi until he succumbed to death in August 2024.
This was two months before the historic seizure of power by the opposition coalition led by Duma Boko. With the benefit of hindsight, it would appear Kgosi faced trumped-up charges. The State, despite its relentless pursuit of Kgosi, never really scored any victory against him. Kgosi’s trials and tribulations demonstrated how vindictive Masisi was and the extent to which he was ready to use the State apparatus to fight and pursue political battles. The stage was now set for political expediency to assume precedence over any other considerations during the Masisi term of office.
The treatment meted out to Kgosi bordered on a violation of human rights. He was paraded on social media and television like a subhuman being. In one of his many court appearances, an intensive member of the DIS spy unit was shown on social media depriving Kgosi of water and the regime saw nothing wrong with that.
During the tenure of Masisi, Kgosi lived on the edge like a hunted animal. His death came under mysterious circumstances and in other jurisdictions, an inquest into his death could be opened so that the family could have closure.
Responding to Mmegi enquiries this week, University of Botswana (UB) retired politics and administrative studies lecturer, Adam Mfundisi, is steadfast that Khama, before appointing former president Masisi as his heir to the throne, consulted people within and outside the BDP.
He explained, “The majority were not in favour of Masisi as his vice president and subsequent successor to the presidency.” “Khama, being himself, went against majority advice and appointed Masisi.”
The former lecturer’s view is that Masisi seems to be Machiavellian and scheming.”
“ He is a public speaker who was able to delude Khama and had limited political experience and knowledge. Masisi is a political narcissist able to appeal to the hearts and minds of his listeners,” observed the political commentator.
He also holds a strong view that Khama was completely ‘duped’ by Masisi, as he had a greater ambition to ascend to the presidency once he was appointed VP.
“He continued to stay undercover, waiting for the moment of assumption to the Office of the President (OP) to show his character and leadership. He avoided the scrutiny of the DIS led by Khama’s right-hand man, the late Isaac Kgosi. “
Once in office, Mfundisi asserts that Masisi engaged in an anti-Khama crusade, attacking any policy associated with the latter. He added that his (Masisi’s) vitriolic attack on Khama using State institutions, processes, and persons was unprecedented in the history of Botswana.
“Masisi, on the other end, presented himself as a saviour, democrat, an anti-corruption tsar, and a people-centred leader. He presented himself as a champion of inclusivity, consultation, dialogue, democracy, and good governance.”
Mfundisi highlighted: “Most of this political rhetoric did not materialise. We witnessed massive corruption and maladministration in his tenure of office. State institutions, persons, and processes were weaponised against enemies, opponents of the Masisi regime.”
He also observed that politically motivated investigations and prosecutions were directed particularly at Khama and his lieutenants, including Kgosi. Allegations of massive corruption and abuse of office were levelled against Khama. The Wilhemina ‘Butterfly’ Maswabi case, as well as firearms prosecutions, were pursued by the Masisi government against Khama and his cronies. “We now know these were fabricated cases motivated by political corruption. Security organisations were weaponised to fight Khama and his tribesmen and women. The police, DIS and the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) were mobilised to pursue Khama and his disciples,” he explained. National issues were subordinates to Masisi’s interests and needs. Political narcissism grew during the presidency of Masisi.
“All these narcissistic behaviour”, Mfundisi believes, “fuelled corruption and maladministration leading to social, economic and political decay.”