Retired Generals feel disgusted and defamed by Minister Mmusi
Demand retraction of utterance made in Press Release
Retired soldiers’ associations have called on the Minister of Defence and Security, Kagiso Mmusi to retract his unfounded accusations against his so- called former Generals, lest he affirms to the public that he is dishonourable.
The associations - Botswana Defence Force Retired Members Association ( BDFRMA), Elders Forum and A re Itshekeng - say the press release clearly makes reference to the utterances made by the former President in a virtual address to the Botswana Patriotic Front political rally in Francistown on 03 September 2023 and the aspersions cast against President Masisi, something which retired Generals of the BDF have nothing to do with whatsoever.
Mmusi, recently issued a press release, which was a response to alleged attacks by former President Ian Khama on initiatives to improve conditions of service in the BDF. The press release goes on to touch on the former President’s tenure at the Botswana Defence Force ( BDF), mainly pointing to his failures in the realm of military administration. They argue that contrary to the impression that the past leadership ignored the pension issue, it is worth noting that they are where they are in terms of military pensions because of two main factors. The key factor is said to have always been the inappropriate pension denominator, which accounted for the huge and worrisome variation between military personnel and their civilian counterparts.
“Since the pensions matter is sub- judice, suffice it to state that, this matter arose in 1998 and proper and comprehensive representations were made to safeguard the sanctity of the military pension by successive Commanders of the BDF. “At the central government level, the incumbent President has always been part of the decisionmaking processes and fora handling this matter. This obviates the myth that at the government enclave there were any dissenting voices to safeguard military pensions,” the associations said in a joint statement, adding that the pension arrangement in which serving members of the BDF find themselves as beneficiaries by default, is the New Retirement Fund Act as its application to them is unlawful since they are not public officers.
They pointed out that their position as retired Generals regarding procurement matters is that, taking a glance at the broad spectrum of procurement practices across the government, there has been issues of concern, which have over time compelled the Government to refine the procurement statutes and structures.
On the issue of Combat readiness, they argue that they are constrained to unpack it to the extent that it will enlighten the reader fully and convincingly mainly because the subject by its nature is classified. Notwithstanding the issue of classification, they said they find it rather unfortunate that the Minister seems not to have been taken into confidence regarding the history of BDF’s combat readiness. It argued that successive and comprehensive presentations have been made to the authorities on issues of readiness.
“The Minister is directed to apprise himself with the past BDF presentations by the former Commanders and their General Staff to the Ministry, Defence- Council, Parliamentary Accounts Committee, Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Defence and Security, as well as the wider government National Development Plan XI budget and review process which President Mokgweetsi Masisi had in the past supervised as the then Vice President.” They revealed that in some parliamentary debates, including in certain instances voices from the opposition and the civil society, efforts to improve the readiness of the BDF were shot down.
According to the associations, thus in terms of the perking order of national spending priorities, defence readiness was relegated to the least position which unfortunately had far reaching and negative implications explaining the current posture.
“A number of crucial points arise out of the press release by Honourable Mmusi. As retired Generals we have noted not only with concern but also disgust that references are made to “some retired Generals” in a negative and rather defamatory manner.
“Of particular concern to us, is the open discussion of classified matters which are of national security importance and cannot therefore be placed in the public domain without due regard to the inherent repercussions,” they revealed.
The association expressed that in the same vein, the antagonisms between the government and former President Ian Khama, should not in any way implicate retired Generals whose identities are not disclosed, thus creating a rift between all the Generals on the one hand, the State and the public.