BDF goes to war, but at what cost?

Commander in Chief: Masisi has a difficult decision to make PIC: BW GOV
Commander in Chief: Masisi has a difficult decision to make PIC: BW GOV

While the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) says the debate around the Mozambican deployment is at a political stage, recent strong remarks by the Commander in Chief Mokgweetsi Masisi suggest a military decision is imminent. The President says even with the coronavirus (COVID-19) weighing on the budget, the cost of doing nothing to help will be much higher. Staff Writers, THALEFANG CHARLES, MBONGENI MGUNI & INNOCENT SELATLHWA report

On April 8, 2021, the presidential jet OK1 landed at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport just after 8pm and before President Mokgweetsi Masisi could sit behind the wheel to drive his Toyota GD6 home, he met the press in a televised media conference to update the nation, and, ‘to whom it may concern’, about his Mozambican sojourn. The mood around the President’s people was triumphant.

Even though the President knew that afternoon, that he would arrive late in Gaborone, after the curfew hours kicked in, he eagerly wanted to update the nation. The SADC Double Troika Communiqué that announced the approval of SADC intervention in Mozambique was already out. The local presidential media corps, judging from the Office of the President’s surprising eagerness to hold the briefing late in the night, were beginning to speculate that Masisi might be coming with much bigger news beyond the communiqué.

Editor's Comment
UDC's 100 Days: Please deliver your promises!

We duly congratulate them to have ousted the long ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) from power. Prior to taking power from the BDP, the coalition had made several election promises that are credited for influencing change and swaying the people to vote in its favour.The party had made an undertaking, which its leader and President Duma Boko consistently bellowed in his campaign trail. These undertakings were promises that Batswana would be...

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