By Oliver Modise
31 March 2008
Outgoing President Festus Mogae has said that it is disheartening that the local media continues to give support to opposition parties at the expense of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP).
Mogae raised his concern last Friday when welcoming BDP members to the party's National Council called to discuss party issues and government policies.
"There exist a few vociferous politicians, some of them in the National Assembly who will violate every rule in the book to gain political mileage," he said.
But his red suit and tie spoiled the occasion for the president's rhetoric and seemed appropriate for a political rally under an oak tree as opposed to the magnificent Boipuso Hall. He castigated the same politicians for claiming ownership of some of the political reforms like lowering of voting age from 21 to 18 and creation of Independent Electoral Commission (IEC). Mogae said all these were a result of his government's initiative. He said he wondered how the opposition would make reforms when they had never been in power.
"Our system of government is solid and stable because it was well architectured," he said. "Unfortunately, human nature has determined that just as good architects have to share the same firmament with poorly skilled mortals, so must good politicians co-exist with unskilled ones," added Mogae.
The outgoing BDP leader also took a swipe at the opposition parties for creating an impression that his party is against political reforms, describing it as irresponsible politicking.
"Although they do not have much support nationally, they have received a disproportionate share of attention from our media which they have used to whip at the Botswana Democratic Party," he said.
On the repeated calls by the Botswana National Front (BNF) and Botswana Congress Party (BCP), Mogae highlighted that if Botswana were to opt for the direct election of the president and introduction of party funding, BDP would always be the main benefactor because of its solid support.
"If we were guided strictly by self-interest, we would introduce some of these changes without being prompted," said Mogae.
The president said that opposition politicians had some deficiency in what he termed 'the art and architecture of government'. Mogae was riding on cloud nine as he slammed the opposition parties for likening government to fashion, where change is embraced because one's high profile neighbours looked glamorous wearing it. "That is why their positions on political reforms are always motivated by obsession, subjectivity and perceived political advantage," he charged.
"We are being asked to introduce direct elections of the president because the Kenyans and Zimbabweans have done so, that we should have party funding because it is practised in the United States of America", arguing that the existing system was being mocked even though it was still upright.
Mogae sent the crowd into laughter and cheers when he suggested that the "reformist opposition parties might even demand that government should abolish the Kgotla system like in South Africa and Namibia".
He credited his government with building a robust economy, reducing unemployment, alleviating poverty and fighting the HIV/AIDS pandemic. He, however, acknowledged his government has not been successful in all its projects.
The president urged party members not to be divided by this year's primary elections like in 2003, as this would give opposition parties an upper hand in the elections. Mogae told delegates that he was transferring his membership to Phakalane ward with the hope of bonding with other BDP members.
Turning to Vice President Ian Khama, Mogae said that he had confidence in him as his successor because he (Khama) was a man of many hats. He said as a chief, traditional norms and values ran through his blood, while as a soldier he had been led and also commanded and earned himself stars. Khama has also been a significant team player as a politician.
"He possesses all the qualities any nation would look for in a leader," said Mogae. He stated that he was convinced that the incoming president would lead the party to more victories.
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