'I didn't resign as BDP president' - Khama
Thalefang Charles | Friday October 26, 2018 13:15
Khama however says he is not taking action on the advice. He says if somebody else goes to court to challenge the matter, “it would be out of my hands”.
Former BDP Mogoditshane constituency hopeful, Tshephang Mabaila, is reportedly questioning party president, Mokgweetsi Masisi’s status in an appeal against his recent suspension by the party.
This week, Mabaila, who is a close Khama ally, could not comment on the matter.
“I am out of the country and made an appeal to the President,” he said.
It is believed that Mabaila has invoked Article 29.3.2 of the BDP constitution challenging the suspension by Masisi.
Article 29.3.2 of the BDP constitution reads: “The person so elected if other than the incumbent, shall be styled the president designate of the party becoming the party president upon the predecessor lawfully vacating that position. The president designate shall become the party’s presidential candidate in the forthcoming national elections”.
On Monday, Khama told Mmegi that he did not resign as BDP president, but rather followed what he was told was precedent.
“To tell you the truth because I wanted to follow things properly I spoke to the current secretary general [Mpho Balopi] and hopefully he will be honest and confirm this to you.
“I haven’t said it before to any media house. I said to Balopi, ‘when I read the constitution it talks about the vice president taking over when there is a vacancy in the presidency. How does this vacancy come about?
“It is either the president dies or he resigns, so shouldn’t I formalise it and write that I am resigning rather than going to the rallies saying Rre Masisi is taking over from me as the president of the party?
“He came back to me and said ‘no it is not necessary’.”
Khama said he never made noise about the matter and it was only now that it was being raised.
“Because of the spirit of handover that time between me and Masisi I assumed that I was handing over the leadership of the party. That was my assumption. I did enquire as I have said whether I should formalise it and was told it wasn’t necessary. I am not the one who threatened to go to court about it, but if somebody else goes to court to challenge it that is out of my hands. And if they do go to court, we will wait the ruling of the court.”
He continued: “I don’t know, I am not a lawyer. If I say I want to take it back, it will have to go to court, and the court will say why did you wait for six months? “You waited all this time without saying anything. Why are you bringing it up now? So like I said I am not the one instigating it because I assumed I handed over to him [Masisi]. If I didn’t do it properly then it will come out in court.”
Khama said he was aware of a possible legal test of the matter.
“I believe a letter has been written to them saying that. That gentleman who was suspended by Masisi is saying it was an illegitimate suspension because he [Masisi] is not the leader of the party. I heard about the letter not initially from him then I asked him and he said yes he has written the letter.”
“If they do go to court, we will wait the ruling of the court.”
Khama was elected the BDP president during the national congress in 2014. He vacated the state presidency on March 31, 2018 and the following day Masisi was sworn in as the republic’s President.
The former president’s supporters say in terms of the party constitution, Khama should have remained the party president till July next year when his final term ends.
Khama disclosed that other people have since asked him about the presidency of the BDP and he also asked his lawyers, Collins Newman and Company about their interpretation of the issue.
“Essentially they said indeed it is true that it could be argued that I didn’t resign formally, and therefore when I was elected, my stay of leadership should be until the next election of another leader which is next year.”
The BDP is scheduled to hold its national congress next July, where a president is to be elected.
Ruling from the grave
The former president also dismissed public commentary that he wants to “rule from the grave”.
The former president has been roundly criticised for apparently wanting to wield control over his successor or public policy even after his term in office has expired.
“I am doing charitable work. How is that ruling from the grave? I am doing conservation work, I am a Kgosikgolo [paramount chief]. OK, I told you what I am doing, and so you have never heard me saying that I want to be involved in government or government decisions, never!”
He stated that his involvement in the BDP is when candidates, as they are doing now, ask him to visit their constituencies to address rallies.
“If that qualifies as ruling from the grave it is fine, you can put it like that. If I wanted to continue ruling I could have done what the others are doing in the continent and change the constitution and try to extend my term of office. I had a plan for my life after the military and it was not politics. I was planning to go into tourism and I was going to continue with charitable work and conservation. Those three things.”
Boko’s alleged visit to Mosu
Khama also moved to dismiss reports that Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) leader, Duma Boko was driven to Khama’s holiday home in Mosu by Mabaila and received P800, 000 from the former president. Khama said Boko has never been to Mosu.
“Unless he went there in my absence. I have never met Boko in Mosu. I never gave him P800, 000. I never gave him P100, 000. Why take him to Mosu? If it was suggested that I wanted us to hide, he has been here to this office without hiding when I engaged him to take up the Isaac Kgosi case.”
Khama is contemplating suing the government after they refused to appoint the former Directorate of Intelligence and Security director general, Kgosi as his private secretary.