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Botswana: BPP Bemoans 'Democracy Under Threat'
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Mmegi/The Reporter (Gaborone)
18 July 2008
Posted to the web 18 July 2008
Oarabile Mosikare
Francistown
The oldest political movement in the country is going to the annual delegates conference 'to bemoan democracy under threat'.
Botswana People Party (BPP) delegates will convene at Tonota College of Education under the theme: 'Our Democracy Under Threat'. The 46-year-old party expects about 250 delegates.
According to the BPP publicity secretary, Kumbulani William, the party president, Bernard Balikani, will officially open the conference.
Unfortunately, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) official who was expected to be the guest speaker will not make it because the party is engrossed in talks with Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF.
But the main issues to be discussed by delegates are the preparations for the coming general election and logistics for engaging in those elections, candidates, funding and campaign teams. "Other issues are the rising cost of commodities such as food and petrol. We will also discuss the Zimbabwean issue," William pointed out.
The other aim will be to fill all the constituencies by not cooperating with any opposition party. The party has adopted a 'go it alone' strategy to contest the next general election.
William admitted that this will be a tall order for his moribund party. During the last two general elections, the BPP has not contested the elections on its own. This time around the publicity chief revealed that if they failed to fill all the 57 constituencies, they would try at least to have between 40 and 45 parliamentary candidates.
The delegates will be expected to endorse some of the co-opted members into the central committee (CC). William stated that if the delegates do not want to endorse some members into the highest decision making committee, then elections would be held to fill those CC posts. Resolutions are to follow on Monday.
The publicity secretary also complained that since the advent of President Ian Khama's regime, Botswana's democracy is under serious threat. He said one of Botswana's pillars was 'therisanyo - consultation' but this has since diminished under the new regime.
William said Khama outlined his acclaimed 4Ds, which encompass democracy, development, dignity and discipline - not in any particular order - as his guiding principles.
William noted that these principles were imposed on the people without first consulting them. "Khama brought in his agenda but didn't consult. As the BPP we feel he has forgotten other 2Ds that clearly define his leadership. In addition, there is directive and dictatorship".
He said Khama is always issuing directives without first consulting the executive. Amongst the 4Ds, dictatorship is the silent one, William explained. He pointed out that Khama was fond of ingratiating himself to the people, after which he would then issue directives to the cabinet to do as he had promised.
William cited the directive to release prisoners. The exercise was devoid of terms of reference. "The President acted impulsively. That is why the only convicts who benefited from his directive were those serving extra mural sentences," he explained.
William was quick to claim that the President was exploiting opposition party ideas but that he had problems with implementation. He asserted that the ruling Botswana Democratic Party is conservative and it is against change.
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The BPP leader attacked Khama for failing to introduce unemployment benefits.
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