New Khama-backed party emerges
Staff Writer | Friday May 17, 2019 13:05
This week, authoritative sources told Mmegi that the party, which does not yet have a name, has the blessing of former president, Ian Khama and is his brainchild.
Already a constitution is being drafted and preliminary structures being put in place, while feelers are being sent out to recruit other high profile members.
Apart from the former president, the names of those pushing the new party are being kept a top secret within the group spearheading the latest developments.
However, it is known that Mokgweetsi Masisi, both as the BDP and the country’s President has fallen afoul of some sections of the party after numerous high profile dismissals and suspensions.
Information gleaned from those close to developments around the new entity say it will be led by Khama loyalists who have fallen out with the current leadership under Masisi.
“We are busy with the constitution before we announce our new political party,” a highly placed insider told Mmegi on condition of strict anonymity.
“We will not stand in all 57 constituencies. We cannot afford to stretch ourselves in such a manner. We will contest elections in not more than 15 constituencies and mostly in Central District”. Another source said the new party was searching for a leader, who would be known this coming week. “Our movement will also approach the opposition,” he said.
The new formation appears to be gearing itself to split BDP votes, particularly in the Central District. Khama loyalists in the BDP have reportedly been strategising how to hit back on the pressure being mounted by Masisi against them.
The loyalists have gelled into a faction and are possibly planning to emulate the path taken by the Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) in breaking away from the BDP in 2010. “They have to behave like what the pre-BMD did at the Big Five Lodge in Mogoditshane in 2010.
“You call every aggrieved member to a public meeting and consider your options. These little secret meetings do not help in anyway. They behave like mere lambs to the slaughter house,” another insider told Mmegi.
Khama recently set the ball rolling at the now infamous May 4 Serowe meeting when he identified a “hit list” of BDP stalwarts he wanted to take down. At the meeting, Bangwato tribesmen also gave him the go-ahead to leave the ruling BDP.
Since he relinquished power in April 2018, Khama and his successor, Masisi have not seen eye to eye on a number of issues. Analysts have described their relationship as “irreconcilable, contemptuous and incompatible”.
At the May 4 meeting, Khama listed a chain of alleged offences committed against him by Masisi and his officials both within the party and the government, ever since he left power.
He then proposed that that he would put his departure from the BDP on hold for two to three weeks in order to further consult stakeholders before handing in his party membership card.
Khama has kept the nation guessing about his next move by not specifically stating his next political home. He is expected to be back in Serowe on May 25 to finally inform Bangwato on his final political decision.
Late afternoon yesterday Khama declined to shed light on the matter. “I cannot comment on what I will do until I get feedback at the next meeting on the 25th May and from my ongoing consultations on the matter,” Khama said.