Botswana president suspends rival, exposing rift

Botswana’s president has moved against a rival in his party, exposing an internal split with only months to go before elections.

On Tuesday, President Seretse Ian Khama suspended party secretary general Gomolemo Motsweledi for 60 days.

Khama says Motsweledi brought the party into disrepute by criticizing the party’s law firm, which includes a lawyer who is a friend of Khama.

In his announcement, Khama indicated Motsweledi will be barred from running for Parliament on the party ticket in October elections.

Khama is the party’s candidate in presidential elections that will be held alongside the Parliament vote. He has considerable support because of the popularity of his late father Sir Seretse Khama, Botswana’s first president.—Sapa-AP