Khama to campaign for Moswaane
Chakalisa Dube | Tuesday September 25, 2018 13:59
There is widespread talk that through his kgotla meetings Khama is endorsing his favourite Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) candidates, who are seen to be anti-President Mokgweetsi Masisi, ahead of the next general elections.
The former president is also expected to dole out blankets to the elderly during the Kgotla meeting that will be held at Monarch location.
Khama’s visit to Ignatius Moswaane’s constituency may come as a surprise to many because the two have never enjoyed a sound relationship when the former was still president. Moswaane has often criticised Khama, something that the latter openly disliked.
Incumbent MP Moswaane was declared the winner at the BDP primaries last month although his challengers have launched protests with the party leadership.
Moswaane confirmed Khama’s trip on Tuesday indicating, “Khama will be here to interact with the people of Francistown West. He called me last week requesting that he visits the constituency and I acceded to that request”.
There are those who are of the view that Khama is reportedly frustrated because Masisi is not executing some of his post presidency desires.
Early last month Khama addressed a kgotla meeting in Francistown East where he also donated blankets to the residents. The trip was widely viewed as a move to solidify incumbent Buti Billy’s election bid at the BDP primaries.
Billy triumphed against James Kgalajwe. Khama has defended his controversial trips saying that they are part of his vast range of charitable activities.
Ahead of the BDP primaries, Khama also launched Francisco Kgoboko’s Trust in Bobonong and uttered statements that were seen to be de-campaigning defence minister, Shaw Kgathi.
Kgathi was brutally floored by Kgoboko at the BDP primaries, days after the launch of the trust.
Additionally, Khama would weeks later address a kgotla meeting in Tonota in what was also calculated as a veiled endorsement of his blue-eyed boy Thapelo Olopeng ahead of the BDP primaries. Khama’s trip in Tonota was also widely disputed by Olopeng’s opponents at the primaries. Olopeng eventually won the primaries convincingly.
There are those within the BDP who believe that Khama is hatching a plan to topple his one-time trusted ally Masisi from power.
Moswaane also rubbished talk that Khama’s trip is meant to endorse him leading to next year’s general election.