In a developing story, it has been reported that the Directorate on Intelligence and Security Services (DIS/DISS) has arrested three (3) of Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) activists.
While the reasons for their arrest has not yet been communicated by the spy agency, the BPF has condemned the arrests as politically motivated move by the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP).
The BPF believes that the DIS was sent by the ruling party to arrest their activists, in an effort to frustrate BPF bye elections campaigns. The party is convinced that their activists are being harassed for having a connection with former President His Excellency Seretse Khama Ian Khama whom the DIS has been conducting a series of searches on his properties across the country.
“The Directorate of Intelligence and Security Services, DIS, has arrested three BPF linked individuals in what is a continuation of blatant provocation and abuse of power by the Masisi led regime.
The only crime the trio has committed is their being associated with the BPF. The three are indefatigable BPF Women’s League Chairperson, Ms. Catherine Sepora, a mother whose school going child remains inconsolable; former BPF Publicity Secretary Mr. Justice Motlhabane who now serves as an administration officer at MP. Lesedi Leepeetswe’s Constituency Office and former BPF Youth League National Organizing Secretary Mr. Ogaufi Nthobelang, also known as Ratsie.
The three are arrested as part of a pattern of harassing anyone who pledges loyalty to the BPF; part of effort to disrupt BPF bye election campaign preparations and systematic harassment of anyone who stands by former President Khama. They’re arrested for being opponents of the Botswana Democratic Party. We will give more information to the nation as we get it. Currently, the trio are held incommunicado and we are not even sure when they will have access to their lawyers as the notorious DIS is fond of rendition of people from one place to another to make it hard for legal counsel to reach them.
We stand by these citizens, and we dare the DIS to keep the arrests coming. We are ready, and bidding our time. Some day, we will get tired of all this harassment.” Lawrence Ookeditse, Publicity Secretary for BPF wrote.
