The Patriot on Sunday | www.thepatriot.co.bw | May 02, 2021 News 1 BBS BRAWL: MOLEFE HAS THE LAST LAUGH! - PAGE 3 | COUNCILLORS GET 6% SALARY INCREASE - PAGE 5 | DEBSWANA 2024 IN FULL SWING- PAGE 3 www.thepatriot.co.bw MAY 02, 2021 | ISSUE 422 P12.50 BDF Generals get diplomatic posts BDP vs BDP • Generals Morake goes to Japan, Masisi’s day of reckoning Seikano for UK • Masisi faces no confidence motion • BDP MPs blame him, VP Tsogwane over factions Though he was not happy with the forced retirement, Morake was • BDP MPs rendezvous with Masisi, fault govt decisions assured of the diplomatic post but took long to accept it. “He was BAKANG TIRO petitions and the Covid-19 pandemic supposed to have completed the [email protected] our wish was not granted. We will induction workshop at Ministry of have discussions on some issues that Foreign Affairs and International push for a motion of no will be known after,” he said. Relations but asked for more time,” confidence against The BDP backbenchers want revealed the source. A President Mokgweetsi the retreat to be their affair with Morake who will start the Masisi is gaining traction among Masisi only and have demanded workshop next week will be taking fellow democrats ahead of July that members of cabinet including over from career diplomat Nkoloi session of Parliament, due to vice President Slumber Tsogwane Nkoloi who was returned home in growing factions, The Patriot on -who is also the BDP Chairman to be February this year. Morake, who Sunday has learnt. excluded from the guest list. Kablay, Morake is a military academician of note, Infuriated Botswana Democratic who is also MP for Letlhakeng- will be following in the footsteps Party (BDP) backbenchers want Lephephe, however could not be PHILLIMON MMESO of other senior army officers like Masisi to put the house in order at drawn into discussing whether the [email protected] former army commander General Tsholetsa House and Government Leader of the House - Tsogwane and Matshenyego Fisher who was the enclave or else risk losing their cabinet ministers will be part of the overnment through country’s High Commissioner in support and loyalty. Hence, a retreat discussions. the Office of the Nigeria. was hastily convened next week Masisi recently held a retreat with G President is expected to Popularly known as “Goose”, a Saturday and Sunday between Masisi his cabinet which its mandate was make announcement about new nickname derived from his first and the ruling party MPs to iron for President and cabinet to review appointments of Ambassadors and name Gotsileene, General Morake out issues and discuss the recent progress on the implementation High Commissioners next week. is known for his military academic instability in government, which is of the President’s Transformation One of the new diplomat prowess as he established both likely to harm their fortunes towards Agenda in the light of severe health is the past immediate deputy the officer cadet camp in Paje in 2023 BDP primary elections and the and economic hindrances caused by commander of Botswana Defence 1990 and the Command and Staff 2024 general elections. the novel Coronavirus pandemic. Force (BDF) Major General College. BDP Chief Whip in Parliament, Some MPs are concerned about Gotsileene Morake who resigned Another appointment which Liakat Kablay confirmed that Masisi President Mokgweetsi Masisi emerging factions in the party, from the army in February this [PIC:PRESSPHOTO] is yet to be confirmed is the will meet MPs for a retreat on the blaming Masisi and Tsogwane for year. Highly placed sources at deployment of director general – 8-9th May 2021. Kablay, however, the contents of the agenda before about self-introspection as the party meet with the President after 2019 their tendency to favor some BDP the Office of the President have said he is not at liberty to disclose meeting Masisi. “The retreat is all and MPs. We had long wanted to elections but due to the opposition TO PAGE 5 confided that Morake will take support services, Major General over as Botswana’s Ambassador to Molefi Seikano from BDF to Japan. Ministry of Foreign Affairs General Morake’s resignation and International Relations as Mozambique frustrates SADC leaders from the army shocked many designated high commissioner to • Ask for more time to consider the proposal • SADC technical assessment mission proposes 3000 troops for intervention • SADC might revoke SADC’s Mutual Defence Pact and intervene as he was viewed as the next the United Kingdom. Commander of the BDF and there General Seikano’s deployment PHILLIMON MMESO which was supposed to have been Botswana Defence Force (BDF). The by Vice President Slumber Tsogwane support to Maputo. were allegations that he had a fall won’t come as surprise to many [email protected] attended by Presidents Mokgweetsi ministerial troika which comprised but was informed about the The military mission had out with President Mokgweetsi within the military as being Masisi, Cyril Ramaphosa of South of Botswana as chair, South Africa, cancellation few minutes before recommended immediate Masisi. Though he was second in overlooked over his junior during ozambique is said to be Africa, Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe and Mozambique is he could depart. The refusal by deployment of logistics and training command at BDF, age was not on the recent promotions in the army giving SADC leaders Zimbabwe was allegedly cancelled at said to have been in support of Mozambique to accept military support to FADM “to strengthen its Morake’s side to take over from was viewed as a clear indication M a hard time in regard the request of Mozambique President the recommendation to deploy a intervention is said to have thrown capability to combat terrorism”. The Lieutenant General Placid Segokgo that he is on his way out. Many to their proposal for an interstate Filipe Nyusi who requested more regional military intervention force the regional leaders into fits of anger Brigadier Mokukumani led technical as they are of same age and trained thought that with the resignation military intervention to combat and time to consult within government immediately. as they feel that situation will frog mission has made it clear that SADC together. “Though the change of General Morake as deputy neutralize Islamic State insurgents first. The cancellation came when The recommendations were to jump into neighboring countries must deploy combat troops to Carbo in the BDF Act which raised commander, General Seikano will in the northern Carbo Delgardo the ministerial troika meeting had be presented to the Heads of State if appropriate action is not taken Delgardo. the retirement age to 60 favored take over but his junior Major province. already commenced in Maputo and who were to convene on Thursday in time. Mozambique is said to be Nyusi who has made it clear in the him, President Masisi wanted General Mpho Mophuting took The 11th hour cancellation of the was about to discuss the Technical and Friday but Mozambique pulled in support of the technical mission past that Mozambique sovereignty a successor who is still young,” over. SADC Organ on Politics, Defence Mission report which was led by a plug on them. Botswana was proposal that will only require SADC will not impeded upon indicating confided a source at OP. TO PAGE 5 and Security Cooperation meeting Brigadier Michael Mokukumani of supposed to have been represented to provide training and logistics TO PAGE 4 TWISTER COMBO for 9990 2 Twisters + 2 Regular Chips + 2 Drinks 2 News May 02, 2021 | www.thepatriot.co.bw | The Patriot on Sunday SADC has “responsibility” to help Mozambique New technologies to he Southern African “The rise in these dreadful attacks improve food security Development Community raises concerns they are likely T (SADC) has a responsibility to spread to other provinces in to help a member state “whose Mozambique and the entire region. sovereignty and territorial integrity is The sooner we respond collectively, under serious threat” according to an the less likely these barbaric acts of extraordinary meeting of ministers terrorism will continue to destabilise in the regional bloc’s politics, defence the region.” and security body. The statement ends with a vote A statement posted on the SADC of thanks to Botswana President website yesterday (Thursday, 29 Mokgweetsi Masisi and notes the April) attributes this comment to MCO meeting was “a culmination resident Mokgweetsi Masisi indigenous seeds for food production. Botswana Minister of International of efforts to secure the region by of Botswana on Thursday It has become imperative for Botswana Affairs and Co-operation Dr urgently addressing the security P said it has become imperative to adopt disruptive 4IR technologies Lemogang Kwape. He is quoted as situation in Cabo Delgado province”. for the southern African country to that will help us transition,” said Masisi. chair of SADC’s Organ on Politics, Earlier this week reports indicated adopt disruptive Fourth Industrial In the absence of 4IR, these challenges Defence and Security Co-operation, three light infantry battalions of Revolution (4IR) technologies with of recurring droughts contribute to referred to as the Ministerial 620 soldiers each and two 70-strong a view to improve the country’s food food shortages and a high food import Committee Organ (MCO). Special Forces squadrons would be security. bill which is not sustainable in the long The statement elaborates on the the vanguard of a SADC force to In a statement