Boko speaks out
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Friday May 16, 2014 17:52
In an exclusive interview with Mmegi yesterday, Boko says he has met Khama, not twice as the Botswana Democratic Party alleges, but four times. He says the first time it was during his time as the chairperson of the Law Society of Botswana (LSB) at a gathering at Grand Palm. The second time was also during his reign at the LSB.
Boko explains that it was in his professional capacity that he met the President.
First, he says he wrote to the Office of the President (OP) requesting to meet Khama to discuss the state of human rights in Botswana. Again, during his chairmanship of Botswana Network on Ethics Law and HIV/AIDS (BONELA) he requested a meeting with Khama and the response was that he was busy and unavailable.
“In the course of my legal work as a lawyer handling a variety of cases I wrote to him as the President of Botswana seeking audience about human rights. Illustrative one is the John Kalafatis matter. I didn’t receive any response,” Boko says.
But it was not the legal or human rights issues that the current controversy is about. To which, Boko says yes, he met Khama at the OP towards the end of 2012. “It has never been in doubt,” he says about his meeting with Khama twice in October 2012.
He explains that an invitation was verbally presented to him by a friend, fellow attorney and former student at University of Botswana, Sadique Kebonang that Khama wanted to meet him. “I was agreeable. I said I have long wanted to meet the man and I have issues to raise with him.”
When he finally met Khama he raised issues of the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) retired members. He said he even told his clients about the meeting.
“From his side he thanked me and presented his issues and said he felt I had amazing capabilities that I should join his government and he could avail any position I desired. He felt I could make a contribution to the country. He also said he was desirous that I join his party. I politely but firmly declined. The meeting was between me and him.”
The UDC leader says he indicated to Khama that the only instance that would make him to work with Khama, if that was feasible, was when he declared Government of National Unity.
“It is not true that I made a proposal to join the BDP,” he says adding that he is content with being a lawyer.
He explains that Khama mentioned to him that any position was available to him [Boko]. “The meeting ended on the understanding that Khama would respond to my issues at a later date and would come back to me. The understanding was that we would meet again.”
Boko was quick to mention that they also discussed the conduct of local politics. He says Khama told him he was of the impression that he (Boko) was fearsome and contemptuous of authority. “I told him I had no reason to dislike him. I also told him I’m his political adversary not enemy.”
The next meeting, he explained occurred a few days later and Kebonang told him Khama wanted to meet him and he went. “When we got there Sadique spent a substantial part in the meeting and Khama still persisted in his request that I should join his party and I maintained my position. It was a cordial meeting and I realised that the main purpose of the meetings was for me to join them and I declined.”
A few days later, Boko says he went to Europe and came back to lead the Umbrella and took the fight to the BDP.
He says the meetings also gave him the confirmation to what he had already heard about the BDP using their financial muscles to buy rivals. “Offers were extended and I can confirm.”
Boko claims that he informed the Botswana National Front (BNF) central committee about the meetings and even shared this with the 2013 BNF Gantsi elective congress.
He dismisses allegations that the Director of Intelligence and Security, Isaac Kgosi, brokered the meeting with Khama. “I also heard that the meeting was arranged by Thapelo Olopeng. I have never met that fellow. I am not surprised by all these. Last year there was a rumour that I was given P150,000 by Olopeng and Moyo Guma. Guma also rubbished the rumour,” he says.
Boko expects the smear campaign to intensify. “Here is a party, the BDP, which is proud and arrogant, you claim that the main guy, your nemesis, this guy comes to you and offers himself and you say No! When you realise that, for lack of a better word, the man is rising and rising, and the Umbrella is a threat, you go and dig and dig and create a false impression. Let them go on and reveal the video,” said Boko.
As a parting shot, Boko assures his followers that in his entire life, there is no possibility of him joining the BDP. Khama’s senior private secretary Brigadier George Tlhalerwa refused to comment on the matter until Monday. Efforts to contact Kebonang proved futile at the time of going to press.