Is Khama thriving on VP uncertainty?

For the first time since the amendment of the Constitution in 1997 to introduce the automatic succession clause, the ruling party under President Ian Khama goes into this year’s general elections without a running mate. This is a person who, if the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) wins neaxt Friday’s general elections, will ultimately succeed Khama in four years time when he steps down from the presidency.

While the automatic succession dispensation was created under Sir Ketumile Masire to ward off uncertainty as to who would succeed the president, it now appears like under Khama there is uncertainty as to who will eventually replace him in April 2018 when his 10-year tenure comes to an end. The ruling BDP goes into next weeks general elections riding on the clout of only one person – President Khama and no one else.