Botswana: The pitfalls of Khama’s methods

In particular the AG’s office advises the sitting President to help him avoid legal pitfalls that the Office of the President may encounter in the process of executing administrative, political and constitutional functions.

Notwithstanding the existence of the office of the AG and other government offices that assist the OP with information it is widely believed that the president often may still go out of his way to enlist the services of unofficial or quasi-official advisors or what is popularly known as the kitchen cabinet.

The former president, Festus Mogae for instance, had his kitchen cabinet comprising long time and trusted friends like Gobe Matenge, Lawrence Lekalake and Louis Nchindo amongst others. Perhaps, not fully content with the services rendered by government bodies Mogae went a step further by roping in advocate Sidney Pilane as a presidential in-house legal adviser in September 2001.

Pilane was brought on board at a time when the OP was under siege following a series of political and administrative miscalculations.

Upon assuming the reins of power, President Ian Khama dispensed with the services of the special adviser to the president.

Now the one million dollar question is the composition of Khama’s own kitchen cabinet? Who are his advisers?

These questions have become even more relevant in light of the latest political developments before and following the BDP national congress in Kanye.

Khama seems to be destined to commit error after error. When the nation rose in uproar over the brutal execution of John Kalafatis by members of the security forces, not even a single word was heard from Khama on the matter.

Within the ranks of his party and beyond, there are few people who have won the confidence and trust of the President. Only few people in the party, the likes of Vice-President Mompati Merafhe, past immediate BDP secretary general Jacob Nkate, attorney and BDP activist, Parks Tafa, Cabinet Minister and cousin Ramadeluka Seretse, Cabinet Minister and Khama’s personal friend, Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi seem privileged to have access and the ability to offer ‘good’ counsel to the president.

Others on the list of his advisers include Justice David Newman, ex-military officers, Thapelo Olopeng and director of the Directorate on Intelligence and Security (DIS), Colonel Isaac Kgosi. In essence, the above listed players complete what has become known as the President’s kitchen cabinet.

Khama has every reason to trust General Merafhe and his counsel. They apparently have a deep-seated spirit of mutual understanding and respect cultivated while Merafhe was serving as Commander and Khama the Deputy Commander of the fledgling Botswana Defence Force (BDF).

Hailing from Serowe, Merafhe is a subject of Khama who has a rare distinction of doubling as President of the republic and paramount chief of the Bamangwato tribe.

Given the almost semi god status that chiefs’ command in the country, Merafhe’s loyalty to his chief is a given. As Vice-President Merafhe is therefore duty bound to stick to his boss through thick and thin.

Nkate has proved to be a close confidante of the president. Before Khama assumed the reins of power, there was speculation that Khama would pick Nkate as his number two.

Nkate has remained loyal and faithful to Khama to the extent that he listens and accepts almost everything the boss commands. His loyalty could stem from the fact that he might still be entertaining the hope of filling the VP position in the event Merafhe opts to retire.

Whilst serving as secretary general of the party Nkate effectively became Khama’s spin-doctor. He acquitted himself well by parrying political ‘missiles’ directed Khama. In deference to Khama, Nkate decided not to defend his position as secretary general of the BDP. Khama had called on cabinet ministers not to couple cabinet functions with executive party positions.

Nkate heeded the call without question, when party strongman, Daniel Kwelagobe decided to forego his cabinet position for which he was fired on the spot.

Nkate even did the unthinkable by openly criticizing Daniel Kwelagobe in the newspapers.

With the renowned Gaborone-based attorney Tafa, Khama meets him at the party level as a legal adviser and they even meet personally outside the Central Committee meetings. Tafa is a senior partner at Collins and Newman attorneys. Tafa is trusted a lot with legal matters just like attorney Isaac Seloko, who is never left out when the President elects members into working party committees.

In fact, Collins and Newman attorneys have always been the Khama family attorneys and this shows a lot of confidence the President has in Tafa and the law firm. The recent matter in which Khama recently threatened to take the Sunday Standard newspaper to court over the allegations relating to the killing of Kalafatis, Khama was still represented by the Collins and Newman attorneys. Even his sister, Jacqueline enlisted the services of the same law firm in a different matter involving her and the Sunday Standard newspaper.

In Ramadeluka Seretse, Khama’s cousin and former military colleague Khama has a brother who will always fight wars from his corner. That Seretse adds to his utility to Khama in that he is able to interpret the legal issues for the benefit of his cousin. Seretse’s loyalty to Khama has never been in doubt.

Beyond the party, Khama is believed to keep an inner circle of friends, predominantly drawn from ex-servicemen. These men are said to not just have the president’s but also have a lot of say in what happens at the OP. This hallowed list includes Isaac Kgosi head of DIS and Olopeng, a businessman who recently traveled with Khama to Singapore under the BEDIA invitation.

Olopeng once told a BDP rally how he tried to act as an honest broker between Khama and the media in a matter relating to the Botswana Editors Forum and the OP.

Khama seems to values intelligence reports so much as revealed by ‘mysterious tape’ that he recently claimed to have found on his table relating to an alleged telephone conversation between motor magnate and BDP treasurer Satar Dada and Tati East MP, Guma Moyo about a plot to frustrate Khama’s presidency. This episode like many others before reveals how much Khama depends on intelligence apparatus.

It goes without saying that the services rendered by his former private secretary Kgosi remain invaluable. In fact, Kgosi is within the President’s inner circle as his association with the top man comes from their days in the military. His continuous supply of information to the OP brings him even closer to Khama as he has to interpret intelligence information.

Venson-Moitoi may have defeated Khama’s recent woman of choice Tebelelo Seretse but this does not mean Khama’s closeness to the Minister and fellow Mongwato is affected in any way. Khama listens when Venson-Moitoi speaks and vice-versa.

Justice David Newman also belongs in this inner-circle. Khama respects Newman’s views on many matters..

There are many examples of incidents, which took place after the Kanye congress, which raise doubts about his handlers. Instead of sitting down with the newly elected Central Committee, Khama chose to snub them and this was followed by his decision to populate the Central Committee with factional leaders from the losing party faction.

He is now at odds with the majority which made its voice heard in Kanye.As a military man, Khama has also failed to market himself as the state president through the use of the public and private media. He is yet to conduct press conferences so that the nation could appreciate his stance on national issues.

If he cannot give away too much of his military ways, at least Khama should engage with the people he leads if he is to become truly a national leader.

Mmegi Online