BDF IS UNDERUTILISING ITS RESOURCES

Former Directorate of the Intelligence and Security Services boss, Colonel Isaac Kgosi, maybe years ( three) out of office but the mere mention of his name still strikes the fear in the hearts of most. After all, this is a man who was omnipresent in the public and private lives of Batswana for 10 full years. And let’s not forget, this is a man who, as co- president, would have handled Covid- 19 a million times better than President Mokgweetsi Masisi. Credit where credit is due: Kgosi, who routinely expanded his mandate, would only have issued instructions on how people should conduct themselves just once and there would have been full compliance.

It turns out though that there is someone even more fearsome than Kgosi: “Al Shabab”, the guy assigned to guard Kgosi during his court appearances. It is more than likely that Al Shabab, so- called because of the Muslim- like wrap scarf that he covers his entire face with, is in an elite commando unit in the Botswana Defence

Force and has been given this assignment because of his quality as a soldier. So far, Al Shabab has won all his tussles with Kgosi.

One was over a bottle of water that Kgosi unsuccessfully tried to snatch from Al Shabab’s hand. Earlier, Kgosi had threatened “I will push you!” Al Shabab literally stood his ground and Kgosi never advanced. Our stepsister paper, Mmegi, reports that on Tuesday, Al Shabab won a stare- down match with Kgosi. But should BDF have deployed Al Shabab to the Village Magistrates Court or the forests of Cabo Delgado, Mozambique where ISIS- K is wreaking havoc? Ironically, he would also be safer there than here. On Facebook, a female brigade of admirers ( some of whom call Al Shabab “bae”) is fast building up. The last thing we want to see is Al Shabab softening up when he is on a mission as dangerous as the one he is currently on.