Merafhe defends VP's absence

CHANDAPIWA BAPUTAKI
Staff Writer | Thursday March 15, 2007 00:00

 

He dismissed talk that ministers continue to defend Khama because they want to be in his good books to remain in the cabinet when he takes power next year. 'E ke yone tshele ya mogeto tota.

'He told the MPs that the VP will only consider the MPs for ministerial appointments on merit to help him run the country. 'But of course if you condemn the VP, you are condemning the Botswana Democratic Party. He is the face of BDP.'

He defended the many international trips by President Festus Mogae. He said Batswana should be indebted to the President for going out to solve the challenges that face the country like bad publicity over the dispute over relocations from Central Kalahari Game Reserve and its effects on the economy. Merafhe said that during his tenure Mogae managed to convince 53 countries that there are no indigenous people in Africa contrary to claims by Basarwa among others. He said he was glad that Botswana managed to defer a declaration by the United Nations Human Rights Commission and got the chairmanship of the Kimberley Process that led the onslaught on blood diamonds.

He asserted that Mogae had to go out, make friends and solicit support from other countries. 'If anyone thinks that I would stay in Palapye ke nwa mogeto while the country is on fire there are mistaken,' Merafhe said.