Former President Ian Khama, who has lately become a major player in local politics, has thrown a spanner in the works by hinting to his newly found political friend Duma Boko at the possibility of attending the much hyphed 2019 Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) manifesto launch in Maun on Saturday.
Addressing a meeting at Lady Khama hall in Serowe recently, UDC President Duma Boko said he does not hate Khama, revealing that he even adviced him against appointing Masisi as his deputy because the latter is immature. At another meeting in Serowe last week, Khama said people should not be surprised to see him aboard Boko’s campaign aircraft. There is fear that his attendance might overshadow the main issue being the manifesto launch.
“Yes he has indicated that he would like to attend the manifesto launch for UDC and we don’t know if the UDC leadership will agree to his request,” a Khama associate claims.
UDC Publicity Secretary Moeti Mohwasa has declined to address their preparations for the Saturday launch, saying they will release a statement during the weekend regarding the event.b He refused to discuss anything pertaining to the launch.
The launch is billed for Maun Sports Complex where UDC Parliamentary candidates will be paraded.
Indecisive Khama
Last week when Former President Ian Khama announced that he will hold a meeting in Serowe to inform Bangwato about his political future especially within the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), many predicted that he is going to resign from the party but he left them hanging.
Khama who is one of the most decisive leaders failed to make a decisive decision but asked morafe to guide him in his decision. Information gathered by this publication has revealed that Khama developed cold feet when his family didn’t give him their blessing about quitting the party that their father founded. Highly placed sources close to the former president revealed that he decided to change his political tact and opted to consult Bangwato on his next political move.
Though most of the speakers advised him to quit the BDP and assured him that they will follow him wherever he is going, the former president insisted that he still has to consult other people around the country.
“I will give you an answer in two to three weeks after I met other people especially my friends but if they (BDP) suspend me from the party then I will quit the party,” he let the cat out.
By attacking the party leadership, Khama is said to have been throwing the ball to the BDP to take action against him thus giving him a reason to resign from the party.
“We are not going to take action against Former President Khama, he is party elder and have been saying all this things after he stepped down from the office. There is nothing new on what he said,” responded BDP Communications Chairman Kagelelo Kentse.
The statement by the BDP is said to have dealt a blow to Khama who was banking on them for his exit from the party.
On Monday, Khama flew to South Africa to meet his bosom friend Bridgette Motsepe Radebe who was recently imposed with visa restriction by Botswana for meddling in the internal affairs of the country.