Masisi spurns Khama, again

Staff Writer | Friday July 6, 2018 18:00

 

Former president, Khama had earlier this week written to the Office of the President requesting aircraft transportation to Serowe where he is scheduled to address Dikgosi from his home village today.

In response, the Permanent Secretary to the President (PSP) Carter Morupisi wrote to Khama’s office: “I am advised to relay the message to you by His Excellency the President Mokgweetsi Masisi that your request to use an aircraft has been denied.

You are advised to arrange road transport for the former President…” Sources close to the developments said after this second humiliating spurn by Masisi for the use of air transport, a friend of Khama availed a helicopter for him to travel to Bamangwato capital.

“This is frustrating. We don’t know why Masisi is doing this to the man who offered him the presidency on a silver platter. The President was on a mission to frustrate the meeting but he doesn’t know what is coming his way. The battle lines have drawn. It is now a clear open war,” a Khama supporter revealed.

He also argued that amongst Khama’s retirement benefits is the use of air transport. This is the second time Masisi has refused Khama the use of official aircraft. Khama got the shock of his life in April, a few weeks after his retirement when Masisi denied him to fly to a social soccer event in Mosu in the Boteti area.

Khama’s confidante, former Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS), Isaac Kgosi lent him the spy agency’s aircraft the move that infuriated Masisi. This led to the sacking of Kgosi from the public service.

As it was not enough a Botswana Defence Force (BDF)’s memo was leaked to the public informing Khama he was no longer allowed to fly any BDF aircraft as crew. Efforts to reach both Khama and Masisi’s offices were futile the whole day yesterday.