Masire, Mogae, launch DK
Mpho Mokwape | Monday August 18, 2014 15:26
The presence of both former presidents at DK’s launch, where President Ian Khama was nowhere to be seen, is quite interesting.Under both Masire and Mogae, DK served continuously as a cabinet minister until Khama came into the picture and decided DK was a spent force.
However, on Saturday Mogae announced to thousands of Molepolole residents that DK, contrary to what some think, is far from being a spent force. DK has not only been removed from cabinet, today he holds no position in the Party where he spent 25 years as its secretary general and later chairman. According to Mogae though DK still has a lot to offer this country. He said despite talk that DK had reached his life span, it was still evident that he has the best interest of his people and the country at heart. “DK joined politics when he was a young man and he was one of the few who led the youth league and now he is the father of the party that young politicians can learn a lot from,” he said.
Mogae further said it was still a long way to the general elections therefore it was important that the residents know who they want to send to parliament least they be derailed by other fly-by-night politicians.
The launch of DK and his council candidates by the former presidents comes at a time when the two statesmen have come out in public bashing President Khama’s regime as undemocratic.
Both former presidents also recently attended the memorial services and the funeral of the late opposition leader Gomolemo Motswaledi, while President Khama was nowhere to be seen. Masire’s famous speech in which he bashed the Khama regime and embraced the opposition was given at the funeral, while a week later Mogae made yet another startling statement at the Africa Forum in Tanzania where he did not mince his words about his successor whom he described as intolerant of debates. Mogae also said Botswana’s gains had regressed, mentioning that in the last six years the Khama regime had deported 2,000 professionals.
Other speakers included Member of Parliament for Molepolole North Gaotlhaetse Matlhabaphiri.
Among the attendees were Minister of Health John Seakgosing, former Minister of Education Pelonomi Venson Moitoi, Acting Minister of Sports, Youth and Culture Vincent Seretse, former Speaker Ray Molomo, also graced the DK launch.