Boko’s ‘wounded healer’ moves rile UDC loyalists
Spira Tlhankane | Monday September 15, 2025 13:14
With party loyalists already on Boko’s case for failing to fire members of the former regime, more discontent kicked in this week when Boko appointed former political opponent Advocate Sidney Pilane as Judge of the Court of Appeal (CoA).
Pilane was the leader of the Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) faction, which led to the party break in 2017 and eventually the formation of the splinter party Alliance for Progressives (AP). Boko later fired Pilane and Co from the UDC, a matter the latter contested and lost at the CoA. President Boko, a confessed ‘wounded healer,’ his appointments don’t come as a surprise because he previously defended his choices, stating that his government is one of meritocracy, not vengeance and partisanship.
Boko said he had an opportunity to become a wounded hunter, but he didn’t do that. “I was wounded myself; I was carrying psychic scars, ontological bruises from BURS and all over. I could have come for all of you because the power is there,” Boko emphasised a few months back.
Now, as Boko ignores the cadre policy and deployment route recommended by his party, critics within the ruling coalition argue that the President’s decisions risk alienating loyal UDC members and grassroots supporters who worked tirelessly to bring the party to power after 58 years in opposition. Many feel sidelined, questioning why political allies are being overlooked in favour of individuals who, not long ago, opposed the UDC's vision and leadership. While some applaud Boko’s ‘wounded healer’ moves as mature and statesmanlike, others worry it could weaken the UDC’s grip on power and blur the ideological lines that differentiate it from the past administration.
“President Boko’s inclusivity is admirable, but it’s a delicate balancing act. If he is seen to be favouring outsiders or former rivals over loyal party members, it could fracture the UDC internally and lead to disillusionment among supporters,” said one UDC loyalist.
With UDC made up of different affiliates who feel it’s their time to eat, some have expressed frustration that qualified party loyalists are being overlooked for critical roles. “We understand the need for national unity, but reconciliation should not come at the cost of the party’s cohesion,” added the UDC loyalist.
Party diehards have been pushing for the placement of their members in key roles by using the cadre policy and deployment strategy adopted by the African National Congress (ANC) when South Africa attained democracy in 1994. The policy is meant to have loyal party hands in strategic positions at various levels of government.
President Boko, however, says he doesn’t govern by looking over his shoulder and that he will not punish those who may have wronged him in the past. But Boko’s focus on building a competent and inclusive government based on merit, not grudges, is not a welcome development for everyone.
Boko’s controversial appointments and retainees
Sidney Pilane
Pilane, who is notably known for being one of the architects of the BMD split in 2017 alongside Gilbert Mangole and Nehemiah Module, is not a name members of the UDC, especially AP members, expected to see in key positions in the current government. Boko, who insists on merit-based appointments this week appointed Pilane to the bench of the apex court in the land. Pilane and Boko clashed when the former’s BMD lost a case it was challenging its expulsion from the then opposition coalition, UDC. Boko triumphed as the legal minds collided, and what followed was a series of political attacks in the Freedom Square. Boko, however, previously indicated that he doesn’t hate Pilane but hates his behaviour. “Le ene yo o bonang re mmitsa thokolosi ha re tenegile yo, ga se gore re mo tlhoile. Re tenwa ke mekgwa ya gagwe le bothinthinyane le bogogorwane ja gagwe. Garena letlhoo mogo Pilane. Re tenwa ke bothinthinyane jo le go rongwa boloi. Re tenwa ke gone mo. Ene hela ele motho ga re a mo tlhowa gothelele,” Boko said during a political rally in 2019.
Kgosietsile Ngakaagae
Boko’s move to appoint respected and well-known attorney Kgosietsile Ngakaagae as the new Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) captured national attention recently. Although there is not much to deduce about their differences except for a series of social media engagements by Ngakaagae after Boko lost the elections in 2019, this recent appointment was also a bombshell for some who thought the two did not see eye to eye. With some UDC diehards eyeing the hot seat when predecessor Nomsa Moatswi was appointed judge of the High Court, many within the party, however, believe Ngakaagae is the right person for the job. They say his years of experience, strong legal skills, and independent mind will help restore public trust in the justice system. It is said that with the Ngakaagae appointment, President Boko wanted to remain steadfast in his approach, urging the nation to trust his leadership and long-term vision.
Peter Magosi UDC supporters are shocked that Boko is still keeping seniors from the previous administration, such as the current Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS) Director General (DG) Peter Magosi. Just like former president Mokgweetsi Masisi fired the late former DIS Director General (DG) Isaac Kgosi, many within the party expected Boko to dismiss appointees selected by predecessors. They feel that they suffered under the hands of the Magosi-led DIS and that the same man cannot continue in their ‘new Botswana’. Boko has, however, made it clear that he hasn’t fired some of the loyalists of the former regime because the latter are ‘performing’ and that getting rid of them could destabilise governance. “You fire everybody, you collapse the system in an instant and then say I failed because there was nobody to work,” Boko noted previously.
Emma Peloetletse
With so much controversy following the Permanent Secretary to the President (PSP) Emma Peloetletse, some within government and the UDC are wondering why Boko is still keeping her in the highest office in the land. Peloetletse, who was even grilled by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC)a few months back, has been in the headlines for the wrong reasons, but Boko hasn’t taken the call to fire her. With the government change from red to blue last year, some expected some unelected senior officials like Peloetletse, who served under the previous administration, to be axed. The expectation was that even non-political employees who serve in senior positions should have been sent home right away to allow the new administration to review staffing as it aligns the UDC’s priorities. “When you remove any public officer and replace them with another one from outside to get them to a certain level of proficiency, it will take a minimum of two years. In commercial settings and companies, they say the turnover of staff comes at a huge cost to the company, and bringing in a new employee to fill the role of one who has left or has been fired accounts for about 20% of the turnover of the company per individual,” Boko explained the logic behind withdrawing his axe on some senior officers.
Jeff Siamisang
Boko had a difficult relationship with Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) Secretary Jeff Siamisang leading up to the 2024 General Election. It came as a shock to see Boko renewing Siamisang’s contract, considering their past. Siamisang led the IEC refused to allow Boko’s UDC to observe and monitor the voter registration period, a matter which was settled at the CoA in 2023. Leading up to last year’s election, Boko was convinced that the IEC would help the former ruling party, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), to rig elections. In a series of public comments during the campaign trail, Boko emphasised that anyone who attempts to rig the elections will be 'put to death'. Boko issued a threat to Siamisang, saying that if the latter tries to steal the election, he will be putting himself in danger along with his family.
With Boko’s continued making these controversial appointments, those closer to the President say that he believes that Botswana needs healing, not division and that people must rise above politics and build a country that rewards ability and integrity, regardless of political past.
“We have got to be sober, we have to be rational, we have got to be factual and work on data. It is merit that matters, and it should matter. It doesn’t matter your politics, I don’t have to like you, you just have to do your job,” Boko previously pointed out.
Going forward, all eyes will be on how President Boko manages the competing demands of unity, loyalty, and political practicality in the months ahead.