Botswana Congress Party (BCP) president, Dumelang Saleshando, has sent tongues wagging following his revelations this week, suggesting that the Directorate of Intelligence and Security Services (DISS) played a decisive role in the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) historic 2024 election victory.
Addressing members of the media this week, Saleshando made claims that during a courtesy visit to congratulate newly elected President Duma Boko, he quizzed him about the future of DISS boss Peter Magosi- only to be “shocked” by the response.
According to Saleshando, Boko allegedly remarked that without Magosi, the UDC would not have won the election.
“He told me that had it not been for Magosi his party would not have won government and I immediately left after those remarks,” stated Saleshando who added that before the election Boko had a different view about the DIS and its Director General. “His tone has totally changed. He had promised to disband the DIS or remove Magosi from office,” he added.
However, Botswana National Front leaders who form part of the UDC heavyweights and gatekeepers have come out guns blazing, dismissing the claims as “unfounded, bitter and reckless.”
BNF Secretary General Stephen Modise and the party’ s Vice President, Moeti Mohwasa, have rubbished the allegations, insisting there was no DISS hand in the UDC victory, but “only the unmistakable voice of a fed-up nation”.
“This was the will of the people. To say Magosi or DIS had a hand is an insult to voters who saw it fit to change government,” said Mohwasa before castigating the Leader of Opposition saying he chose to share with the public what was not said and ignored what was said.
“After 58 years of BDP rule, the masses were a gatvol of one-party dominance, pomposity, and the alleged mismanagement of national resources and coffers. The people spoke -loudly – through the ballot. People must just accept that they lost power to us,” stressed Modise, who is also the Minister of Health.
