Confusion over General Masire's successor

BAME PIET
Staff Writer | Friday April 30, 2010 00:00

Masire will retire in the next two months.Responding to our enquiries on a wide range of issues, the BDF protocol and public affairs officer Bernard, Ragalase only confirmed that Masire would retire in July but did not say a word about succession.

Ragalase said he was not aware of reports that Masire's contract had been extended by two years during which his successor would prepare to take over the reigns. 'This is the prerogative of the Commander-in-Chief, His Excellency the President, and we are not aware of such (a development),' Ragalase said.  According to anonymous sources, the issue of who will succeed Masire is a serious one that needs to be addressed, especially that there is dispute over the recent sacking of theCommander of Ground Forces, Pius Mokgware and lack of information on the matter. Mmegi is in possession of a list of potential candidates to succeed Masire after his retirement. In the past, a Deputy Commander automatically succeeded a retiring Commander. But given the unpredictability of President Ian Khama, it is not a given that Major General

Otisitswe Tiroyamodimo, who is the Deputy Commander, will succeed Masire. Even soldiers are said to be wondering who their next Commander will be. Meanwhile, Ragalase has denied reports that the army is experiencing a shortage of skilled female soldiers after a number of them dropped out to go on maternity  leave following their male superiors impregnating them.

Ragalase said they have not had any case of that nature and that nobody has been dismissed from duty for breaching the Code of Military Conduct. 'Nobody has been dismissed for that offence because no one has breached the Code of Military Conduct,' he said.

Prior to the enrolment of female soldiers in 2007, General Masire stated that the military would not condone love affairs between junior officers and their seniors and warned that any senior officer engaging in such affairs would be dismissed immediately.On another matter, Ragalase said the sale of the old presidential jet has been put on hold because of the global economic recession.