Tumultuous end to Masisi's one-term legacy
Tuesday, May 06, 2025 | 780 Views |
Masisi. PIC: PHATSIMO KAPENG
Masisi, the former president of Botswana and the fifth leader of the BDP, will officially hand over leadership, closing a controversial and historic chapter in the party’s annals. His tenure is etched in record books for all the wrong reasons. Not only did he serve as the first former ruling party’s president to govern the country for a single term, but he also became the first to lose a general election whilst seeking re-election.
This unprecedented defeat sent shockwaves through the party’s ranks, prompting calls from disillusioned members for sweeping change.
It is a warning flare to every Motswana who logs onto social media. As a country, we have reached a point where the line between robust debate and outright destruction has become dangerously blurred. At face value, Mabeo’s response, which seeks an apology and threat of a defamation suit, might seem severe to some. But we cannot ignore the context. The comment in question did not offer a policy critique or question a political decision.It...