Blow for Khama in Botswana party elections

KANYE, Botswana, Tuesday

As expected, President Ian Khama got a slap in the face when all his candidates lost in the battle to control the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) on Monday.

The rout in the villlage of Kanye, 100km west of the capital, Gaborone started with the race for the chairmanship where party strongman, Mr Daniel Kwelagobe overcame the challenge of former cabinet minister, Ms Tebelelo Seretse in the contest for supremacy between the resurgent Kedikilwe-Kwelagobe faction and their rivals in the Nkate-Merafhe axis.

This was the biggest battle in the party and the winning faction was likely to sweep the stakes in the rest of the election.

After Mr Kwelagobe beat Ms Seretse, the next prize was the secretary-general. The Kwelagobe-Kedikilwe faction sought to press their advantage by getting the position while their rivals wanted to recover lost ground.

But once again, former BDP youth wing president Mr. Gomolemo Motswaledi handed the Nkate-Merafhe faction another humiliation when he walloped Health Minister Ms Lesego Motsumi to become the new BDP scribe.

The victory of the Kedikilwe-Kwelagobe faction in the race for the secretary general proved beyond doubt that Khama and his favourites were headed for a humiliation.

In short order, Mr. Wynter Mmolotsi beat Central District Council (CDC) chairman Mr Lesego Raditanka to become deputy secretary general. Mr Kagiso Mmusi, son of former vice-president and BDP chairman, the late Peter Mmusi ousted ex-cabinet minister, Mr Charles Tibone as deputy treasurer.

Motor magnate, Abdul Satar Dada, a long-time Kwelagobe ally, was unopposed as BDP treasurer.

After the elections, Ms Seretse expressed disappointment that women were the majority among the BDP delegates but still they could not swing the contest in her favour. She was not happy that the women decided to vote for a man.

The clean sweep, by the Kedikilwe-Kwelagobe faction put paid to Khama’s attempts to promote women in the party and end divisions.

Originally, Khama told faction leaders like Mr Kwelagobe, outgoing BDP secretary-general, Mr Jacob Nkate and Vice-President Mompati Merafhe to refrain from contesting party posts. In addition, he said that BDP members should choose only one either from contesting general elections, being in the cabinet or vying for party positions.

While the Nkate-Merafhe faction accepted the edict, the Kedikilwe-Kwelagobe refused and pressed ahead with a two-pronged assault for general elections and party polls.

This led to an annoyed Khama launching an unprecedented attack on the Kedikilwe-Kwelagobe group. At one point it was reported that at best Khama said he would find it hard to work with the faction if they win the party polls. Other reports said that Khama threatened that he would resign if the faction humiliated him at the BDP elections.

Though he later denied the reports, it was obvious from his mien and utterances that he has a big problem with the defiance he was shown by the veteran Kwelagobe and his allies.