Obert Mundevere Ncube | Zimbabweans have one more reason to envy their neighbours after Botswana’s President Ian Khama announced that he will be stepping down in the year a 94-year-old Mugabe will be standing for re-election, 2018.
As Mugabe remains hanging on a thread at the age of 93 amid a pro Mnangagwa insurrection, Khama has called it quits.
The Southern Times newspaper Monday says President Khama, who also leads the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), will be replaced by his deputy President Mokgweetsi Masisi.
Seretse Ian Khama – the son of Sir Seretse Khama, Botswana’s first post-independence leader – took over as president in April 2008.
He was the chosen successor of Festus Mogae, who stepped down at the end of his second term, after a decade at the helm.
The younger Khama secured a five-year term in October 2009 after the BDP swept to victory in a parliamentary election.
He secured a second term following the August 2014 polls, in which his party won most of the seats.
He had been Botswana’s vice-president since 1998.
The forthcoming transfer of power will take place during the BDP congress, the Southern Times newspaper reported.
Once a Gukurahundi, always a Gukurahundi. The head is thick; it cant be taught anything and understand!!
(President Robert) Mugabe and the
regime he installed do not value life. Day in day out we read about Mugabe’s
evils deeds. How does he sleep at night? Time and again since 1981 Mateleland have
asked time and again.
After 38 years in power, Robert Gabriel
Mugabe has become un-Zimbabwean, today he is un-African. He resembles nothing
of we are as a people. We read that the army beat up student at Midlands State
University (MSU). Maiming innocent students (even guilty ones should not be
maimed) is a heinous act. University students are the future. Children are the
guarantors of a sustainable economic and social, development of any country.
What happened today at Midlands State University today can only be sanctioned
by a beast. It is obvious that overstaying in power creates heartless beasts. People
of Mashonaland please in 2018 gives you a golden opportunity and chance to deal
with this beast once and for all. To the Students who are in pain nursing
wounds needlessly caused by Mugabe’s blood thirsty animals, we wish you a
speedy recovery and we extol you not to let your resolve to be good productive
citizens be troubled.” VOTE MUGABE OUT PROGRESSIVE CITIZENS
Can someone from there teach ZANU puriz?
A typical BDP strategic modus operandi – clever guys indeed. Like in the UK, the Botswana Constitution allows the Deputy President to take over should the incumbent quit the Presidency mid term.
So, the BDP Presidents have been quitting mid term, so that the Deputy moves in and sells himself to the voters for the rest of the term.
By the time elections are due, the people have become used to the Presidential face and have accepted him.
No wonder the BDP has been sweeping the elections since independence; not discounting the Seretse Khama factor.
They have a nice, well laid out succession plan; where they dont wait till late to introduce the new face of the party!!