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.
He indicated that BCP will always strive for regime change or attainment of state power through its clean and transparent campaigns based on its social democracy principles, not smear campaigns. “Nevertheless, BCP is shocked by the level of intimidation levelled against MPs by the 'self-acclaimed' human rights oriented government. We urge UDC not to be intimidated by the executive given their mandate to represent the voters without fear or favour,” he highlighted. There has also been an unverified message circulating on social media alleged to have been sent to Jacobs by the Head of State. Meanwhile, the UDC and the Office of the President have not yet released a statement on the matter.
