Khama's SA visit sets tongues wagging

ISAAC PINIELO
Correspondent | Friday February 4, 2011 00:00

 

While some people regard this visit as a reflection of compassion by the president, others say it has some element of favouritism. Skeptics argue that if Khama was that sympathetic to members of his cabinet, he would have accorded the same to other ministers like, Daniel Kwelagobe, Gaotlhaetse Matlhabaphiri and the late Baledzi Gaolathe who previously went for treatment in South Africa.

To some, the reason Khama did not visit the other ministers while they were in their hospital beds is that they have been associated with the former rival Barata-Phathi faction of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP).

MP for Francistown South, Wynter Mmolotsi, said it would have been surprising for Khama not to visit Merafhe because they have worked closely together unlike with the other ministers.

He said he would not agree that the visit was based on factionalism because the late Gaolathe was 'non-aligned' but as for Matlhabaphiri and Kwelagobe, they were once associated with the Barata-Phathi faction.

'For me I think it's just that Merafhe is so close to Khama as his deputy and the treatment given to him by the president would not be the same with that of other cabinet members,' he stressed.

Botswana Congress Party (BCP) information and publicity secretary, Taolo Lucas, says although it is a good thing that Khama has shown compassion to the VP, there should be consistency.

He indicated that he would like to see the president showing compassion to other cabinet ministers who may fall sick, stressing that one would have expected the president to do the same with Gaolathe when he was hospitalised in that country.

'If it's a treatment that is only accorded to Merafhe, then there must be something suspicious,' said Lucas. Olefile Moumakwa, a Botswana National Front (BNF) official, has a different understanding of the president's visit to South Africa to check on Merafhe. 'My suspicion is that the vice-president is critically ill and that the president must be very worried about his health condition because he is his number-two,' he asserted.

He said Merafhe's illness must have made the president uneasy because he might be wondering what he will do if anything happens to the vice-president. BNF spokesman, Moeti Mohwasa, said for the president to check on Merafhe was the proper thing to do since they have worked together in different disciplines for a long time.

'Khama has worked with Merafhe in the army and again in the cabinet, so I don't see anything wrong with him having to check on him,' he stated.

BCP official, Vain Mamela, also shares the same sentiments with Mohwasa. He says the only problem with Khama's show of compassion is that it is done selectively. 'He should treat members of the cabinet equally regardless of their factional allegiances,' said Mamela.

However, government spokesman, Dr Jeff Ramsay, emphasised that the president's visit to see Merafhe was meant to get first hand information of the circumstances surrounding Merafhe's health.

As for Khama having not visited other ministers who were ill in the past, Ramsay said, 'The president may not have visited them while they were hospitalised in South Africa, but surely he made contact with them to find out how they were doing'.

He further indicated that the visit was also done because Merafhe is second in Khama's administration and that they have worked together in the army as well as in the cabinet.