Indications are that in the ceaseless factional fights of the BDP, Khama finally used Thato Kwerepe - a relative novice - to flatten Barata-Phathi and scrimp Jacob Nkate, though this is emphatically denied.

BDP insiders reported this week that after the BDP congress, Khama got closer and closer to Thato Kwerepe to the extent that "there was a time when Kwerepe boarded the OK 1 (the presidential jet) in Maun to attend a party meeting in Gaborone" Until the Kanye congress, little was known about Kwerepe who was the headmaster of Naledi Senior SecondarySchool in Gaborone two years ago. He contested the BDP Bulela Di Tswe primaries under the Barata Phathi faction but lost to former Education Minister Jacob Nkate, the former Secretary General of the BDP. A former factional colleague of Kwerepe's describes him as "harmless".

It was at the Kanye congress that Kwerepe pulled the rug from under the feet of more fancied players like Neo Moroka and Phandu Skelemani by being nominated to the BDP Central Committee. In this, he was actually riding on the popularity of the Barata Phathi. BDP insiders this week said they are not shocked by the sudden eminence of Kwerepe because "we saw Khama get closer and closer to him". Before the elections, Kwerepe, with the help of Nata-based businessman Seloma Tiro, suddenly and publicly denounced factionalism and vowed to support Nkate in his bid to retain the Ngami constituency. But Nkate was doubtful of Kwerepe's overtures and stated in a subsequent interview that "Kwerepe is yet to show that to me and I will only be convinced that he meant it when he says it to me".

Whatever it was or was not, this was a shrewd PR exercise that catapulted Kwerepe to greater heights. While Nkate fretted about Kwerepe's sincerity, apparently Khama was impressed and announced at a rally to launch Nkate as the candidate Ngami that he would reward Kwerepe for his reconciliatory efforts. Khama is alleged to have pronounced: "Rraetsho, ga re kitla re go lebala" (We will never forget you)." And as it just so happened, Kwerepe was the director of ceremonies at Nkate's launch. Today, Khama has been true to his word, and Kwerepe has been rewarded, quite possibly leaving Nkate, now a private citizen, green with envy. In the Ngami constituency generally, Nkate is believed to have lost to the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) because he did not get enough support from Kwerepe and his supporters. But did Khama use Kwerepe to beat Barata Phathi?

At the Monday elections, the rest of Barata Phathi had expected to witness a smooth transfer of power with acting Secretary General Wynter Mmolotsi confirmed in the position and another member of their faction becoming the new Deputy Secretary General.

But that was never to be, thanks to manoeuvres who had reportedly placed his people so strategically to that Barataphathi lost the position by seven votes to the A-Team's eight. Insiders say Barata Phathiwent into the Monday retreat with nine of the 15 Central Committee members from their faction while the A-Team had only six. However, two prominent Barata Phathi reportedly betrayed their faction on the floor and voted with 'the enemy'. Mmegi has the names of the fifth columnists.

At the end of the Monday meeting, a prominent member of Barata Phathi who has requested anonymity said he was convinced that Khama is a political schemer extraordinaire.

"He plots and schemes all over the place and has proven to be very deadly," says the frustrated source. "Khama does the thinking and manoeuvring single-handedly."

The source posits that it was not surprising that Khama turned the tables on Barataphathi "because he never rested post the Kanye congress and the general elections". He adds that Khama has gained control of the Central Committee and that everything that happened this week was in accordance with his political script. From Motswaledi's court cases and this week's resignations of Mmolotsi, Kabo Morwaeng and Guma Moyo from the Central Committee, the Barata Phathi strategist is convinced that it spells the total defeat of Barataphathi, who failed to use their majority effectively.

Quizzed about his newfound political relationship with Khama, Kwerepe was reticent except to say Khama did not play any role in his political rise. He also denied ever boarding OK 1 as part of Khama's efforts to win him over. "It's not true that I ever boarded OK 1 from Maun to Gaborone to attend the Central Committee meeting," he said in an interview yesterday. On allegations that he plotted Nkate's downfall, Kwerepe said he and his supporters had played a positive role but in elections "anything can happen".

"We did our very best for Nkate in the elections," he said. My supporters and I were for him through and through." He also denied reports that he has defected to the A-Team "As the Secretary General of the party, I am above factions," he said. "I serve the entire party." However, he agreed that he was previously a member of the Barataphathi faction.

The Executive Secretary of the BDP, Dr Comma Serema, also denies that Khama cut any deals with certain BDP Central Committee members to oust Mmolotsi and the Barata Phathi faction.

"At the party secretariat, we deal with Central Committee members as party officials and not as members of any faction," Serema says. "I am not aware that Khama could have used any Central Committee members to fight any factional wars as you are suggesting."