Will Khama give opposition cabinet posts?

TUMELO SETSHOGO
Correspondent | Friday December 7, 2007 00:00

 

Khama is expected to take over from President Festus Mogae early next year. First to predict is the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) vice president, Kesitegile Gobotswang in his opinion letter that appeared in Mmegi dated Wednesday 17, October 2007 recently titled 'Bye, bye democracy! Welcome dictatorship'.

 
He said: 'Khama might use all his might and the state machinery to destroy the opposition parties. Being a man of surprises, it will not be surprising if he co-opts some opposition members of parliament into cabinet'. Gobotswang added that other critical persons associated with opposition parties could be offered diplomatic assignments to silence them.

Some Botswana National Front (BNF) members who sympathised with former vice president, Kathleen Letshabo revealed that, party leader Otsweletse Moupo and his deputy are the likely candidates. 'I personally don't trust these guys - Moupo and Gaborone - because they are very close to Khama,' said a BNF MP who did not want to be named. He said: 'What I know is that Gaborone is a personal friend of Khama, but Moupo I don't know whether its personal or political,' revealed the MP.

The Botswana Guardian recently reported that Gaborone was still carrying a BDP membership card which he dismissed saying it is another of BDP  bringing instability in their party. Gaborone resigned from the BDP after the then Minister of Communications, David Magang kicked him out from Botswana Telecommunications Corporations (BTC) CEO post due to a controversial billing system.

 
He said Moupo confessed to his colleagues in the party that Khama advised him that some BNF members were plotting for his down fall at the Molepolole special congress in the middle of 2007. It was also revealed that Khama saved Moupo after he ran out of finance to come back home following a personal trip to London last year. Unconfirmed reports said that Khama instructed the Botswana High Commissioner in London, Roy Blackbeard to assist him to come home.

 
Executive Secretary of the Botswana Council of Non-Governmental Organisations (BOCONGO), Baboloki Tlale said he doesn't see any possibility of Khama bringing opposition members into his cabinet. He said: 'I don't think even the opposition members would agree to be co-opted in because they are there to take government to task on issues of policy and programmes'.
According to him, the BDP would not want to commit suicide by doing that, 'because there are certain secrets which the opposition can't know and they are not supposed to know'.

 
'The opposition is there to challenge the ruling party policies and accepting the co-option would not work for them,' advised Tlale. He said this is the right time the opposition should get more energy in articulating very critical and important issues to promote democracy.

 
'I also don't think they would be silent when Khama takes over next year. They should come alive and stand their ground,' said the BOCONGO chief.   
University of Botswana (UB) social work  lecturer and political analyst, Log Raditlhokwa said there was a possibility of Khama putting opposition members into his cabinet. 'Yes, there is that possibility basing on some statements he made in the past. I suspect so,' said Raditlhokwa. He revealed that Khama once said he prefered chieftainship because it unites the tribe, whereas politics is divisive.

He cited the recent situation where Khama called for a compromise for the BDP members wishing to stand for elections in the 13 constituencies under the opposition. He said this is a sign that Khama wants to lead a united party and government.

  
Raditlhokwa said Khama has the interests of Batswana at heart and he would want to head a united government and avert factional wars in the BDP, 'which at some point delay government business and developments because of their differences'. Raditlhokwa went on to say: 'I don't think Khama is much interested in party politics and factionalism'.

 
'He would want people who are pulling together with him as patriots not as individuals,' he predicted, adding that Khama would put the interest of the country first. According to Raditlhokwa, factions will waste Khama's time in running the government. Raditlhokwa says that he doesn't have any problem with Khama co-opting opposition members into his cabinet. He said this would also answer complaints from the opposition parties where they said their members are being sidelined when the president chooses specially elected parliamentarians.

 
'They have been complaining about being left out when the exercise is done and I don't think they could refuse such an arrangement,' he said, adding that there are capable individuals in the opposition who can add value to the government administration.
'This also could accommodate very capable individuals from the opposition who can help in running this country,' advised Raditlhokwa.

 
He said Khama should do away with the practice of appointing people on the basis of factionalism. 'He should look for talent and intellectuals who can take this country forward in this era of globalisation'. Raditlhokwa highlighted that this arrangement have the advantage of re-shaping the political landscape of this country.
He dismissed suggestions that when opposition members are co-opted into cabinet they would now keep quiet and not challenge today's government on issues of policies and programmes.

 
'We are a small and developing country. We need to come together to take this country to a higher level,' charged the political analyst, adding that: 'We have to be very careful. If we play politics in our country, we will not go anywhere in terms of service delivery and development'. He said young parliamentarians like Saleshando have energy that the country could benefit from.

 
Botswana Democracy Party (BDP) activist and Kgatleng East primary election candidates, Mpho Moruakgomo concurred with Raditlhokwa. He said: 'Because we have a small population, we need these guys for the development of this country'.
Moruakgomo said political affiliation should be put aside if we want to develop this country. 'I support the idea fully,' confessed Moruakgomo.

 
'This will also enhance democracy as we will be united in the development and other important issues affecting this country and its people,' charged Moruakgomo.
Political science lecturer at UB, Zibani Maundeni doesn't see that happening. 'I don't see it happening,' said Maundeni. According to him, Khama would want to promote unity at all costs within his party. Maundeni advised Khama that if he wants to break the BDP, 'then he should go ahead with that.' He gave the example of the recent collapsed opposition talks where BNF ended up fighting within its ranks, as they could not all agree to the idea.

 
Commenting in his personal capacity, Shoshong MP, Duke Lefhoko said: 'I don't see that happening at all'. He said they totally differ with the opposition on everything and there is no how they can accommodate them. 'We differ both at parliamentary level and at party level,' reminds Lefhoko.

Meanwhile, another political analyst, Keineetse Keineetse said it would be ideal to have opposition taking part in the executive de isions of the country, as they will also contribute in making major decisions. He said there are strong candidates in the opposition camp who can add value in the running of the country. Keineetse doesn't subscribe to the idea that, by including opposition members in the cabinet it will be to silence them.

 
BDP secretary general and education minister, Jacob Nkate said though he is not the VP's spokesperson, he doesn't see Khama accommodating the opposition camp in his leadership. 'It is an unlikely scenario to have them in cabinet,' said Nkate. He said they are always including the opposition in the major decisions such as making laws in Parliament and other available structures where they are members.

 
Nkate also said that since the opposition is always criticising the BDP policies and programmes, it would not be right to include them in cabinet, 'because who knows, they might push their own agenda'. He said the current arrangement is serving the country well.

The opposition parties have been calling on Khama to disclose his plan for the country when he takes over from President Mogae early next year, but to no avail. Political commentators, workers' unions, civil society and the public are only speculating on what Khama will bring when he ascends to the highest office in the land.

 
Even in the ruling party, they are in the dark about who will get the nod for the vice presidency. There are some members in the BDP who are queuing for the vice presidency, among them, Nkate and Mompati Merafhe.