Kapinga Welcomes Kgosi Axing
Chakalisa Dube | Monday May 7, 2018 13:54
Kapinga was unceremoniously pushed out from the police service and dumped into the Foreign Service when he was on the brink of taking over as the police commissioner. This is when his then superior Thebeyame Tsimako was just about to retire.
He alleged that Kgosi was responsible for all the malpractices associated with the spy agency.
Although in a previous interview Kapinga vehemently denied that he was pushed out of the police service by former president, Ian Khama because he differed with his blue-eyed boy Kgosi and the DIS on abuse of suspects, The Monitor is on good authority that the differences caused Kapinga’s exit from the police.
“As the head of the organisation he literally commanded everything and influenced the organisation’s policies as well as its approach,” Kapinga told The Monitor. Kapinga was amongst many euphoric Batswana who had taken the debate on the sacking of Kgosi to the social media and other levels. In one of his posts, Kapinga had said: “…His behaviour at the PAC (Public Accounts Committee) needed no magnification. It was the manifestation of tendency to engage in cheer-leading by spineless people who want to be seen on the side of seemingly powerful people.”
He has also described the incoming DIS boss as a professional who is also suitable for his new role and would transform the spy agency into a likeable and respected institution.
“I have confidence that Magosi who I personally know will do things differently and restore the dignity of the DIS. Magosi is very professional. We want the DIS that will respect the rule of law. We want the DIS that will account for State resources and how it carries out its operations. All the wrong that happened under Kgosi should stop with immediate effect,” Kapinga said.
During his time with the police, Kapinga and Kgosi regularly clashed in relation to how the DIS handled its affairs.
The former police boss has often accused the DIS of over-stepping its mandate by doing police duties and mistreating those suspected to have committed criminal offences. In addition, even since quitting the civil service in 2016 Kapinga has often been critical of Kgosi and the DIS. Kapinga is now an independent attorney practising his trade in Shakawe.
He has since joined the opposition Botswana Congress Party (BCP) as its parliamentary candidate in the Okavango.
Meanwhile, security commentator Olopeng Rabasimane says that it all depends on how change at the DIS as an institution was handled.
That is, whether there was proper handover which means there will be continuity, or things were done in an abrupt manner, which could suggest that the State could be contemplating prosecuting Kgosi for any identified wrongdoing. “If the handover wasn’t smooth but rather it was done abruptly, it tells you there is an intention by the State to hold the former director general accountable of anything that might have gone wrong at the institution during his tenure,” observed Rabasimane.
He was of the view that something ought to be done about the image of the DIS and that is, whether they deal with an individual and find it sufficient enough or they will choose to do an institutional turn-around.
As to his view of the decision taken by Masisi to fire Kgosi he quickly said: “It depends on the process and manner in which change was instituted at the DIS and whether Kgosi was given a chance to handover inventory audit or not.
If he was pushed, it may compromise the principle of ease handover as it may even compromise sources and the method of operation.”
He emphasised that what was fundamental at the DIS was how change was managed.