the monitor

Boko’s ‘threats’ to Jacobs not surprising – BCP

Kamal Jacobs
Kamal Jacobs

Following Lobatse legislator Kamal Jacobs’ damning allegations against President Duma Boko, the main opposition party Botswana Congress Party (BCP) stated they were not surprised as the President has subjected Members of Parliament (MPs) to public tongue-lashing before.

On Friday, the Lobatse MP stunned Parliament when he made allegations that he has been sent threatening messages by the Head of State and his bodyguard. “I am very worried today as I stand in front of you. Yesterday, there was a question that I put to Parliament. I have been sleeping on the edge of my bed,” Jacobs told the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dithapelo Keorapetse. The day before Jacobs had asked Minister for State President if he was aware that the appointment of Chief of Staff might have been illegal amongst others. Jacobs further asked Keorapetse if his life was in jeopardy and whether he should go into exile because of a question. He said his life is in the hands of the Speaker. In response, the Speaker said the MP is protected by the powers and privileges law.

Whilst some within the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) suspected dirty politics and that Jacobs was being used as an instrument by the opposition, BCP secretary-general Goretetse Kekgonegile told The Monitor there is propaganda being run against his party. He said the propaganda is to the effect that BCP has been conniving with Jacobs and Mogoditshane West MP, Galenawabo Lekau, to destroy Boko and UDC. Kekgonegile indicated that BCP didn’t sponsor nor connive with the lawmaker to attack the President and the UDC. “BCP wishes to clearly distance itself from the accusations run by UDC propaganda machinery. We urge that the UDC government must strive to end the 'Museveni' era of name damage politics,” Kekgonegile stated.

Editor's Comment
Human rights are sacred

It highlights the need to protect rights such as access to clean water, education, healthcare and freedom of expression.President Duma Boko, rightly honours past interventions from securing a dignified burial for Gaoberekwe Pitseng in the CKGR to promoting linguistic inclusion. Yet, they also expose a critical truth, that a nation cannot sustainably protect its people through ad hoc acts of compassion alone.It is time for both government and the...

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