Categories: Stories

Khama no different from Mugabe

Former Botswana President Ian Khama has just shown that he is no different from one of his former worst enemies President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe.

He has just resigned from the ruling Botswana Democratic Party and has vowed to join the opposition Umbrella for Democratic Change “to make sure that the BDP loses power in October”.

This is all because President Mokgweetsi Masisi, whom Khama hand-picked to succeed him, lifted the suspension on big game hunting that Khama imposed in 2014.

“I came here to tell you that I am cutting ties with the BDP as I do not recognise this party anymore. It was a mistake to choose Masisi as my successor. I will now work with the opposition to make sure that the BDP loses power in October,” Khama told villagers in Serowe where he is paramount chief on Saturday.

Mugabe last year switched allegiance from the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front which he led for 40 years to support opposition candidate Nelson Chamisa in last year’s elections.

Mugabe, however, had a more plausible reason to ditch his party and successor Emmerson Mnangagwa because they forcibly removed him from power.

(248 VIEWS)

Charles Rukuni

The Insider is a political and business bulletin about Zimbabwe, edited by Charles Rukuni. Founded in 1990, it was a printed 12-page subscription only newsletter until 2003 when Zimbabwe's hyper-inflation made it impossible to continue printing.

Recent Posts

Who propped whom: Masiyiwa vs Nyambirai?

A friend who knows about my legal battle with Zimbabwe’s richest man, Strive Masiyiwa, way…

May 1, 2026

Britain says amendment of the Zimbabwean Constitution is a sovereign, legislative matter for Zimbabwe to decide

Britain says amendment of the Zimbabwe constitution is a sovereign, legislative matter for Zimbabwe to…

March 24, 2026

Who started the war?

It is now 47 years since I wrote the short story below for a South…

March 4, 2026

Zimbabwe 2026 monetary policy statement at a glance

Zimbabwe has released its 2026 monetary policy statement in which it seeks to stabilise its…

March 1, 2026

Was Chombo Mugabe’s number two?

Far from it, on paper that is. Ignatius Chombo was one of the longest serving…

February 6, 2026

Zimbabwe’s 2026 citizen’s budget

Zimbabwe on Thursday announced a ZiG290.9 billion budget with revenue expected to be ZiG287.6 billion,…

November 30, 2025