Director General of Intelligence and Security (DIS), Isaac Kgosi’s recent bad publicity has lead to divisions in Parliament, a source in cabinet has revealed. Kgosi who has received very little public support from government has reportedly caused a rift in cabinet especially between the former minister of Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Mokgweetsi Masisi and the Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Ramadeluka Seretse.
“Masisi is dead set on sticking by Kgosi while Seretse feels President Ian Khama should at least suspend Kgosi as a show of control,” the source said. A letter from some DIS operatives, most of whom are former police officers alleged that Kgosi and Seretse did not see eye to eye as Seretse was aware of Kgosi’s alleged questionable deals and had wanted to act. It is understood that Seretse has called on Khama to at least suspend Kgosi ever since the DCEC investigation docket was leaked to the press.
“Seretse is especially concerned that in some of these dealings the President’s name was used to coerce people into action. Banks were especially vulnerable as huge amounts of money have been transferred without following Bank of Botswana rules. Kgosi told bankers that he was on a mission for President Khama,” the source alleged, adding that Seretse was aware that more embarrassing reports of Kgosi’s alleged activities where he used the President’s name would come to light over the next few weeks.
Masisi is said to believe that there should be tacit support for Kgosi and he believes they will ride out the scandal. “Masisi feels this will all blow over and a suspension will be like to surrendering to media and opposition pressure. He strongly believes that Kgosi will survive and in the event that he gets his day in court, he will likely win on some technicality,” the source said further.
Matters allegedly came to head recently in a cabinet meeting when the disagreements over the matter between the two men became very apparent.
It is understood that the fallout between the two men led to the development of two camps in the cabinet with some supporting Masisi and his pro Kgosi stance and others supporting Seretse and his anti Kgosi stance. The source alleges that most of Masisi’s supporters are outgoing ministers. “The general feeling among those that will be standing for elections is that the saga could make their already difficult campaigns more so as they are already getting questioned by the electorate on the matter,” the source said.
According to the source, this rift is representative of the problems at the party as well as there are some parliamentary candidates who feel Khama’s non action will cost them election. Last week at a workshop, an attempt by some BDP parliamentary candidates to petition Khama on the matter failed as they could not gather enough courage to face the President.
The candidates, most of whom are from urban and peri urban areas, allegedly backed out of an opportunity to confront Khama on the Kgosi issue despite the President asking all of them to address him on challenges affecting their campaigns. “The party is worried that more revelations could really hurt them and the tension is growing. Sooner rather than later someone will take the President head on over this,” the source said.
Contacted for comment, Masisi said he does not discuss cabinet matters with people who are not cabinet members. “Ask the person who gave you that story, since you are saying the person is a member of cabinet, talk to the person, s/he will give information,” he said.
Asked about his position on the matter, he said he could not talk about his individual position because they act as a collective in cabinet.
Efforts to get a comment from Seretse were futile as his mobile number could not go through.