Masisi, Guma freeze Tsogwane’s retirement plan
News
The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development and Member of Parliament for Boteti West Slumber Tsogwane has turned on his decision to retire at the end his current term in 2019.
This publication has been informed that the longest-serving elected legislator, styled Father of the House in parliament changed his mind after being coaxed by incoming President Mokgweetsi Masisi, and Samson Moyo Guma, a key member of Masisi’s team. “He has now abandoned plans to retire; he is contesting again in 2019. It was Guma [Moyo] who persuaded him to contest in 2019 for reasons that they themselves know,” an insider revealed.
Guma remains a king maker in the greater scheme of things — serving as one of Masisi’s trusted men. Since 2015, Guma has been at the forefront of the election machinery that has ensured that Masisi wins and retains the party chairmanship in 2015 and 2017 respectively.
“He is a strategist. Very effective and leads from the front. When he believes in a cause he goes all the way,” hinted one of Guma’s allies.
Tsogwane was scheduled to be succeeded by the youthful Bogolo Kenewendo at Boteti West. Kenewendo was serving as Trade Advisor to the Government of Ghana when she was called to take up the legislative post. This was subsequent to the amendment of the constitution by parliament increasing the number of specially elected MPs from four to six. Kenewendo was sworn in along with former Jwaneng-Mabutsane legislator, Mephato Reatile
Although Tsogwane’s impending retirement was known, Tsogwane had for sometime declined to shed light on his anticipated departure as he noted that only time will reveal what will happen between then and the 2019 general elections. “We are not there yet,” Tsogwane told WeekendPost last year, “Nobody has declared their ambitions because we are still dealing with the primary elections for opposition held constituencies. You’ll know when such time arrives.”
Tsogwane is a key member of Masisi’s allies, and has been tipped as a potential Vice Presidential candidate for the country’s number two post, which will become vacant when Masisi ascends to the presidency at the beginning of next month. Tsogwane made it to the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Central Committee last year contesting under Masisi’s lobby list. Tsogwane has also been mentioned as a potential replacement for Masisi as party chairman as Masisi takes the party leadership role concurrently with that of the presidency.
When asked in 2017 if BDP was grooming Kenewendo to take over Boteti West, Tsogwane laughed off the question. “Maybe you can ask her, she is in a better position to tell if she interested in contesting,” he said. It is was also reported that the decision to persuade him was informed by the fear that Boteti West was no longer a safe BDP stronghold, and fielding Kenewendo before endearing himself to constituents could back fire considering the dynamics of the constituency.
While the constituency has never been won by the opposition, the Botswana National Front (BNF), now under the auspices of Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), has made inroads in the constituency over the past decade. In the 2014 general elections, Tsogwane defeated Sam Digwa of UDC by a margin of less than 300 votes, thanks to the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) vote splitting. Tsogwane got 5790, Sam Digwa 5549 while Tjiliga Letsholo of BCP came a distant third with 622 votes.
The constituency, though a BDP stronghold, has failed to attract heavy weights in party primaries. Tsogwane became the MP for the constituency after defeating Gabofele Masusu in party primaries, then known as the committee of 18 in 1999. Currently alongside Venson-Moitoi, Tsogwane is the longest serving Member of Parliament, hence the Father of the House title, which is given to the oldest serving male legislator. For a very long time, the title was the preserve of Daniel Kwelagobe, who served for 45 years as Member of Parliament.
Kenewendo who was lined up to replace Tsogwane will reportedly get another nod as Specially Elected legislator after the 2019 general elections. Ever since being elected as MP, Kenewendo has been accompanying Tsogwane in Kgotla meetings in Boteti West. It is believed the move was meant to endear the youthful legislator to the constituents. Kenewendo’s contribution in parliament has also raised suspicion, with most of her questions, if not relating to fiscal policy related to the constituency.
Last year, Kenewendo asked the Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism Tshekedi Khama on interventions he had put in place to enable Boteti West communities to benefit from the two parks surrounding them being; CKGR and the Makgadikgadi National Park. Other questions, including regarding the dire water situation in Boteti West have also been posed by the youthful MP.
2014 General Elections Results
BDP 5790
UDC 5549
BCP 622
2009 General Elections Results
BDP 4790
BNF 3748
BCP 459
News
Botswana approves extradition of British fugitive
Raiz Ahmed Tayub, a British fugitive sought by Interpol for his involvement in human trafficking and slave trade crimes, was captured by the Botswana Police Service (BPS) earlier this year.
This content is locked
Login To Unlock The Content!
featured
BOCRA detects new cyber attacks targeted at Botswana
Government owned communications regulator, Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA) recently detected several cyber-attacks targeted at national information and communications infrastructure, companies and home routers in this country.
This content is locked
Login To Unlock The Content!
News
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.