Khama, Morupisi meet neck-to-neck
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Former President Lt Gen Ian Khama and Permanent Secretary to the President Carter Morupisi on Wednesday morning engaged in a heated exchange of words, in what supposed to be a meeting to iron their differences, resulting in the meeting being aborted.
The long standing feud between Khama and Morupisi is now an open secret, and with the latter continuing with the onslaught on his former boss. Khama did not take it kindly this week, telling Morupisi to take his staff it he wants before escorting him outside his office. Following a successful meeting with Elias Magosi who is the Deputy Permanent Secretary to the President a week ago, Khama felt positive because Magosi said he was sent by President Mokgweetsi Masisi to continue the reconciliation exercise.
Khama said they agreed on a number of things which were even asserted by the president in his apology to his predecessor a few weeks ago. One of the few things discussed was to reinstate some staff members who were re-deployed at Khama’s office and official residence.
When he learnt that his junior went on to meet with Khama, Morupisi called the former president’s office requesting for an urgent meeting. According to a close source Khama agreed with Morupisi’s request hoping that he is continuing with the reconciliation and way forward.
Morupisi was on the pretext that he was sent by President Mokgweetsi Masisi but it was later uncovered that indeed he went on his personal capacity. A heated argument erupted when Morupisi ordered Khama to make formal application to his office requesting that his employees be reinstated. It is reported that this is where Khama stormed out and told Morupisi blank that he can go on and take his staff if he so wishes. PSP’s argument was that the staff members we only deployed for a period of 12 months but it does not show anywhere in their contract of work.
The fuming Khama assured Morupisi that he can do as he wish but they will meet in court. Learning that he made a mistake on the letters Morupisi then told Khama that he did not have the authority to write those letters in fact it was the duty of the president. “It is not my fault that is ridiculous. Le santse le tshameka”, said Khama. The meeting was concluded halfway with Khama escorting Morupisi outside his office. Khama swore he will never see Morupisi again and if Office of the President wishes to continue with the negotiations they will have to use other people not Morupisi.
Magosi told WeekenkPost that he was sent by President Masisi to address some complaints raised by former president and indeed he did exactly that. However, Magosi could not share the contents of the meeting saying he was sent by elders thus whatever they agreed is between them. “I was just a messenger,” he said before going into a meeting. A month ago we published a story that Morupisi humiliated Khama in Palapye but Morupisi wrote long rebuttal that was also read live in state media, Botswana Television (Btv) and Radio Botswana news bulletin.
Morupisi distanced himself from the reporting but all the evidence was there that he tried in all vein to humiliate Khama in front a fully packed Palapye Kgotla in Serorome Ward. Tshepang Mabaila, an ally of former President Khama and Mogoditshane Member of Parliament aspirant wrote to both President Masisi and former president Khama to reconcile. Mabaila and Director General of DIS Peter Magosi met with Khama on Tuesday where they both convinced Khama to meet with Masisi and reconcile.
In his letter to the two men Mabaila wrote “I have requested a suggestion of a date, venue and the time from his excellency the president so that a meeting can be arranged with you, your Excellency the former President and his Excellency the President of the Republic of Botswana. Furthermore I humbly request that you avail yourself Sir,” reads the letter.
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Malawi appeals for help over Cyclone Freddy at PAP
As of yesterday evening, the death toll from the Cyclone in Malawi had risen from the initially reported 190 to 225 in a short period of time, over 20 000 people have been displaced, and the worst of fears are yet to come as the fatalities continue to mount. This was reported by a Malawi Member of Parliament attending the Pan African Parliament session in Midrand, South Africa, Hon Steven Mikiya.
Mikiya was giving a statement on behalf of Malawi as the ongoing Pan African Parliament in South Africa.
Mikiya said the Cyclone has wreaked the most havoc in our country’s Southern Region. “The Southern Region, has been hardest hit with widespread heavy rains and strong winds. This caused a rapid rise in water levels and subsequent flooding. Meanwhile, power supply has been disrupted, roads blocked off and rendered impassable and mudslides have also been widely reported,” he said.
He made a special appeal to the PAP: “Where I come from, there is a parable which I would like to share with you which says, “mzako weniweni umamudziwa panthawi ya mavuto.” Simply put, a friend in need is a friend indeed or put loosely, a person who helps at a difficult time is a friend you can rely on.”
Mikiya continued: “Yes! Misfortune has knocked on our door and left in its wake a trail of death and destruction that may take years to fully recover from. However, amidst these difficulties, I have every reason to believe that sometimes when you are in a dark place and think you have been buried, you have actually been planted. My belief, Mr. President, arises out of my faith in this gathering and out of the conviction that it is not coincidental that Cyclone Freddy hit Malawi and Mozambique while the delegations of both countries are here.”
According to Mikiya, the level of destruction, the loss of life, property and the decimation of the entire fabric of established communities has been unprecedented. He noted that all this, is coming at a time when Malawi was starting to show signs of recovery from the deadly COVID-19 pandemic that also came hard on the heels of Cyclone Ana and Cyclone Gombe that left a similar trail of devastation and destruction in Malawi and neighbouring countries.
As of Sunday, this week, from the 12th of March, Malawi and Mozambique have been facing the devastating effects of Cyclone Freddy that made a landfall over Mozambique on Saturday the 11th and reached Malawi by Sunday the 12th of March.
The Malawi legislator said he has absolute faith in the Pan African Parliament, which he described as “a league of nations brought together by a shared ancestry, history, identity as well as our beloved continent which we inhabit”.
Meanwhile, Malawi President, Lazarus Chakwera, has declared a State of Disaster in the affected areas effectively appealing for local and international support for the affected families.
Mikiya appealed to the Pan African Parliament drawing “positive” inspiration from Europe which rallied around Turkey after the destructive earthquakes to bring the much-needed relief and humanitarian aid to the people of Turkey.
He said Africa should demonstrate to the world that the African Union and its Organs are not mere talk shows, but effective institutions which stand up when it matters most.
“Alone, it may take us a lifetime to fully recover, but together, in the Pan-Africanist spirit of Ubuntu, our lives and livelihoods will return to a semblance of normality in record time. This is the time to live by our operative mantra, “One Africa, One Voice.” Mikiya concluded.