- Special Forces training stopped three weeks before completion
- Training had 32 soldiers, army generals sense more upheaval
- Believe the soldiers would also want Special Forces allowance
- Senior training participants have now attached to other units
- 68 Special Force units sue BDF for denying them SF allowance
Botswana Defence Force (BDF) high ranking officials have moved swiftly to stop Special Forcesโ nine month course, this comes three weeks before completion, amid fears of mutiny in the wake of demand for Special Forces Allowance by 68 members of Presidential Ceremonial Guard Unit (CGU).
The course, according to sources started in the last quarter of 2019 and it was anticipated to finish in the first quarter of this year.
It has however been halted without much detail from the bosses, soldiers say. It started in Lone-tree, moved to Selibe-Phikwe and it was supposed to finish in Shoshong, according to informants.
The believe within the barracks is that the army generals are perturbed by the court case between them and the 68 Special Forces Unit from the Presidential Ceremonial and Guard Unit (CGU) who demand payment for Special Forces allowance.
Those who were training are also from the Ceremonial and Guard Unit. โThe seniors theorized that after finishing off the course, they (training participants) might join those (68) who are demanding Special Forces allowance of which it might jeopardize their intention of dousing the raging inferno,โ informant told this publication.
What is most startling to the soldiers, especially those who were at the training, is the fact that the completion certificates were already printed with their names awaiting the relevant Commander to apprehend his signature on.
โThe course had ran for eight months and with only three weeks to go then COVID-19 halted it, thereafter when courses continued to finish, commanding officers of CGU ordered that this course stops. He even attached some senior course participants to other units. This was after BDF was served with statutory notice to sue,โ a source from the military explained.
Part of the impetus for stopping the course for Presidentโs security soldiers is because the army leaders feel that the troops who are always a step away from the President might lust for power and possibly topple government especially when their grievances are not listened to, and as a result they are a threat to Masisiโs security by demanding what is due to them.
Furthermore, there is a belief that the disgruntled members of the Special Forces Unit are pushed by former President and BDF Commander, Ian Khama.
Already there are 68 CGU members who dragged BDF to court demanding the SF allowance.
The troops have been transferred on swapping basis with immediate effect a fortnight ago โto a unit of low levelโ at anti-poaching.
โThis serves to inform you that High Command has takenย a decision to transfer below mentioned ranks from CGU (Ceremonial and Guard Unit) to GFC (Ground Forces) on swapping basis,โ a savingram dated 5th August 2020 read. It further highlighted; โThe personnel selected should be highly disciplined to serve as Presidential Body Guards.โ
โOur clientsโ major complaint is that they are being unfairly and unreasonably denied the Special Forces allowance notwithstanding the fact that government has decided through its various white papers that members of the Special Forces should be paid allowances,โ read court papers in part.
There is also a complain that the BDF high command has decided to use the allowance payment to divide and favour the Commando section of the allowance over the CGU who are also members of the Special Forces.
CGU was established to partake in State house Guard, Ceremonial Parade, Presidential escorts and provide VIP Security.
โThey will be trained to Special Forces standard in tactics, a standard near to that of the Commando Squadron,โ reads BDF circular 81 of 1988 which established the unit.
It further says; โThey will also be airborne trained and carry out some operational duties. The officers currently appointed will act in administrative roles. Later on, young officers will be appointed for operational and ceremonial duties,โ a circular signed by the then Major General, Ian Khama, read.
From the beginning of this unit, members of the CGU and Commando enjoyed the same allowance where they were paid Special Hazard allowance.
In 2015 the then Commander, Gaolathe Galebotswe, issued a savingram in which he authorized that only the Commando Unit be paid the Special Forces allowance to the exclusion of the CGU.
The former were then paid 30 percent of their basic salary as Special Force allowance while the latter were paid a lesser allowance fixed at about P600 a month.
โThe allowance for the CGU is for the Special Hazards only and not for Special Forces allowance,โ court papers highlighted.
BDF head of Public Affairs and Protocol, Colonel Tebo Dikole said; โPlease note that issues of staff transfer, promotion and retirement in BDF are purely administrative and internal matters.โ
