Masisi snub angers Bangwato delegation

LESEGO MOSINYI

Bamangwato delegation representative, Mokhutshwane Sekgoma has expressed frustration following rejection from President Mokgweetsi Masisi to meet him regarding the fallout with former President Ian Khama

Addressing a kgotla meeting in Serowe on Friday, Sekgoma said they sought audience with Masisi because of the unstable developments around Gammangwato and Khama’s uncles discomfort over the strained relationship between the current and the former president. The meeting was held amidst presence of strong security and multitudes of people from different parts of the country. “Our intention is to get to the bottom of the tension between the President and our Kgosikgolo”.

Furthermore, Mokhutshwane said they wanted to relay a message from Khama who wants to know why the president is illtreating him. “In Botswana, law enforcement, police or anyone who want access to search your residence needs a warrant. However, Khama’s residents continues to be searched without a warrant, these are some of the things that Masisi can only answer hence the insistence to meet with him,” he said.

He said it is unfortunate that instead of meeting the president their request was referred to the Ministry of Local government. “We had to write back a letter to president expressing our frustration on why our request was instead referred to the minister when it was addressed to the president whom we felt is the right candidate to address our complaints,” said Sekgoma, indicating that they, however, had no choice but to follow protocol as prescribed to them. He said they remain hopeful to finally meet Masisi who is the rightful person to address their grievances.

In the meantime, while Bamangwato have been longing for the return of their Paramount Chief from his self-imposed exile in South Africa, and have been fighting tooth and nail for that to happen, they have however expressed concern about his safety if he comes back, and therefore they advised him to stay put until his safety is assured. They said Khama should stay put where he is as it is not yet safe, however they said the delegation should continue with their task of trying to seek reconciliation.

For his part, Member of Parliament for Serowe West, Tshekedi Khama said he advised his elder brother who wanted to return to Botswana, to remain in South Africa until his issues with the current regime are resolved. “I told him that we know you have done nothing wrong. However, we don’t want you to be harassed when you come to Botswana. You will only come home when this issue had been resolved,” he said

Tshekedi further assured Bamangwato that, Ian khama is healthy and is well taken care of where he is indicating that he is not experiencing the harassment that he receives in Botswana. “They wrote on social media that he is not well, he however told me to tell Bangwato that he is healthy,” he said.

Moreover, Mogalakwe Mogalakwe advised Khama to just to stay in South Africa and only come back in 2024 when things have changed. “There is no how Khama can be brought back to Botswana under the current situation, because we have observed that there are plots against him, one of them being an attempt to poison him, even the delegation should be cautious when they are served the drinks lest they get poisoned” said one resident.