Slumber Tsogwane, the VP from nowhere
When still a Vice President, Mokgweetsi Masisi survived an attempted coup by senior Cabinet Ministers. Masisi’s survival can be attributed to the then President Ian Khama’s support, which those that led the coup, did not have. Masisi was Khama’s blue-eyed boy. How did Masisi achieve his position with Khama? Two things happened that would set Masisi towards the presidency. The first, his appointment as Assistant Minister and later Minister of Presidential Affairs. It is here that his work ethic was noticed by Khama. He was a hard worker. The second event that would become a springboard was the infamous 2011 national public service strike. Here, Masisi went all out to defend the government when most of his colleagues watched from the sidelines. He did such a good job that he was targeted by Johnson Motshwarakgole and other trade unions for elimination at the general elections. He survived. Khama was impressed. Foes were not amused by Masisi energy and eagerness that they composed songs about how bad a person he was for doing such a ‘good’ job at defending the undefendable. If you ignore the lyrics, you could actually dance happily to the songs. Masisi, the Chutney Sauce loving Minister would be propelled by these events to the Vice Presidency. Yes, Masisi loves Ms Balls Chutney Sauce.
Having survived the coup, Masisi became too aware that, given another chance, the plotters would re-group. Although he would continue to work with them, he never trusted them. As the months progressed and the days for his Presidency fast approached, Masisi stopped eating from the common Cabinet kitchen. He became unsettled. He would bring his own food and water. Who could blame him? He was in the midst of his enemies. They gave him their smiles but had knives behind them, ready to stab him. He would exert his revenge soon. Yes as soon as he became President. He would also be helped by the voter.
Every President chooses his own Vice President; not the party. Members of Parliament (MPs) then endorsed the Vice President. The trick that has been used by all Presidents is to nominate their preferred candidate for the position. They withhold appointing Ministers. In this way, everyone is forced to agree to the appointment of the preferred candidate. This is not surprising as all MPs want to become Ministers. This is how Presidents get away with their choices for Vice Presidency. In Masisi’s case however, Khama had appointed him Minister of Education first. This was just a decoy as he would shortly thereafter move to the Office of the President once he and Khama had agreed that Masisi would occupy the number two slot.
For his Vice President; Masisi would execute a slightly different game plan. He opted for the tried and tested. There was no decoy. He would appoint a VP first before appointing Ministers. We all fell in line. It was interesting to see people changing overnight in order to catch his eye. Principle was forgotten. Not that it was ever there. Khama’s former praise singers became Masisi’s and Khama became an overnight enemy. To this day, I wonder what Khama did to them personally. Masisi was not fooled. Of all President Khama’s associates; only Isaac Kgosi has remained faithful and true. An admirable character trait so lacking in many people. Former President Festus Mogae had warned me about a particular Minister and how that Minister stopped talking to him once he left office. He was puzzled by such conduct. I witnessed the same changes towards Khama by the same Minister. Khama had done more for this Minister than for any other Minister. The Minister had entertained being Khama or Masisi’s Vice President.
In 2014, when the names for Specially Elected MPs were mooted, two names were up for consideration, besides Kitso Mokaila and Kenneth Matambo. The names were of Bernard Bolele and Unity Dow. If it was not for Khama, Unity Dow would not have been nominated. There was an inclination towards Bolele by the caucus. It was however clear from Khama’s presentation where the wind should blow. Years later, the Ministers that benefited from Khama’s benevolence would attack him and perpetuate the misunderstanding between him and Masisi. It served them well. Suddenly they projected themselves as angels. Khama had served his purpose. Masisi was serving theirs. Welcome to Politics 101. I guess it is a destiny that awaits every President once he leaves office. Many years of personal relationships were sacrificed.