Monkagedi Gaotlhobogwe
3 October 2008
Contrary to tradition, President Ian Khama, who came to power in April ,did not mark this year's Independence Day on September 30 with pomp and pageantry.
The National Stadium in Gaborone, which over the years has become the platform for colourful Independence Day celebrations was empty with no activity. There were no Botswana Defence Force firecrackers and war games, no police bands or traditional dancers.
Save for the message he read on Botswana television, Khama kept a very low profile on Independence Day.
Even the chief government spokesman Jeff Ramsay did not seem to have any idea as to how the President spent his first Independence Day. "I will have to check that for you and come back to you later on that one," he said yesterday.Botswana's past presidents have made it a tradition to host senior citizens, VIPs and members of the press during Independence Day celebrations both at the stadium and a party in the evening at State House. Khama's predecessor, Festus Mogae hosted the evening party at the University of Botswana Stadium because of renovations at State House. Mogae used to spend time speaking on Radio Botswana and hosting a radio or TV show with children who asked him questions.
Meanwhile Senior Secretary at State House, Tefo Mokaila felt uncomfortable discussing how Khama spent his first Independence Day as president. He explained that the traditional evening party that past presidents hosted could not take place this year because of renovations at State House. "The State House is currently up side down. It is a construction site.
The main house is not in use at all right now. Even the President does not live here," he explained.
"We do not let visitors in. Even school children wishing to tour the garden have not been allowed in.
The garden is in a bad condition also.
The parties would usually be hosted in the garden area," Mokaila said. He declined to explain why the party could not be held elsewhere like last year.
At the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture, acting Permanent Secretary, Mothusi Nkgowe told Mmegi they could not arrange any activity at the National Stadium because they were made to understand that the facility would not be available.
He said they cancelled stadium activities in April and when they later learnt that it would be available, they did not have enough time to organise anything.
"By the time we realised the stadium would be available, the programme (of festivities) had already been cancelled," Nkgowe told Mmegi yesterday.
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