SHAMUKUNI DENIES BCP DEAL
Member of Parliament for Chobe, Machana Shamukuni has dismissed allegations that he was on the verge of defecting to Botswana Congress Party when President Mokgweetsi Masisi appointed him into cabinet.
The Botswana Democratic Party’s MP was appointed as Assistant Minister of Tertiary Education, Research and Technology, a few weeks after others were appointed.
According to a source close to the Chobe MP, Shamukuni felt betrayed having delivered on a number of duties that the President had previously assigned him to do.
“There was a time he was asked to keep a close eye on certain Ministers and he did just that, he knew he was going to be rewarded well but he was shocked when he was overlooked.”
The source further alleges that frustrated, Shamukuni sent Masisi a text message threatening that he was going to handover a defection letter to the Speaker of National Assembly.
“He texted that he was defecting to the BCP in the afternoon but the President acted swiftly and appointed him an Assistant Minister,” stated the source.
Although he was not happy with being made a Junior Minister, his friends are said to have pleaded with him to stay.
However, Shamukuni denied the allegations, stating that the motive of the source was to scandalize him with lies.
“I never had intentions of dumping the BDP,it’s lies! I was never assigned to watch or spy on some Ministers, that is not true at all,” he said.
Meanwhile, the BCP’s Spokesperson, Dithapelo Keorapetse said that he was not aware of the said move.
“I’m not aware of any engagements with him, if indeed it happened it would probably have been either informal or at lower structures level, Our structures are permitted to recruit new members at ward, constituency and regional level.”
