17 November 2008
When an MP is denied the opportunity to contest elections for questioning some government's seeming military inclinations, we must ask: Where is our democracy in this country heading to?
Tonota MP, Pono Moatlhodi, raised this issue in Parliament recently when he responded to the President's State of the Nation address. Parliament is the very symbol of democracy and freedom of speech.
Gone are the days when the ruling party's backbench used to stand up in Parliament and call on the government to be accountable. Since President Ian Khama took over, we have observed a culture of silence, where even disgruntled members of the ruling party fear to speak publicly about their unhappiness, in fear of Khama.
Moatlhodi's expulsion last week Thursday hurts all who cherish democratic principles. When Moathodi questioned the militarisation of government departments in Parliament, he was not speaking for himself. This military appearance of our government disturbs all indeed, and it is high time we cry out and demand our democracy back.
For the past 40 years Botswana has been known for its free press, free politicking, which are the hallmark of democracy all over the world.
It was only in April this year that Khama took over with a pledge that he will defend democracy. The few days that have passed have proved that this claim by Khama was not an honest one since the president has not spoken against what seems to be going against his road map. In a democracy, everyone is free to exercise their right, especially freedom of speech, which is enshrined in our Constitution.
We miss the days when Batswana used to give their president a hard time at the Kgotla meetings, demanding that their leader show accountability.
We miss the days when the likes of Festus Mogae and Sir Ketumile Masire used to hold press conferences where they were grilled on critical issues without the journalists fearing for their lives.
Khama is yet to address a press conference since he took over in April. Those were the days when people were confident whatever they said about the president in those public forums would not get them into trouble.
Are we seeing Khama fashioning himself as Botswana's first authoritarian leader? Everything points in that direction!
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Botswana has the best economy in africa and the best political system so why would one change what has worked for over four decades. it true that no country can succeed without government intervention in the economy, however, when the president starts telling people that they cant drink and turns the civil service into a military branch that is abuse of power. the only reason khama is president isnt because he is qualified like the previous president but only because he is the son of the first president which should never be a reason to put anyone in power. no leader should ever be feared by his people but rather he should fear the people because that is what makes a democracy such as the oe that existed in botswana before khama thrive.
khama would be a greate president if only he did not think about his personal issiues. i dont knw why he hates alcohol so much. he cant find other means of solving whatever he is trying to solve without punishng people. he have always disliked alcohol sine the time of his father.
now he is asturating the govenment with military personail...he is apointing loyal solders to the high post...he doesnt look at the qualities and qualification. any where even him doesn fit where he is on qualifications nowonder. but now if you want to attract investors to botswana they ask about govenance and leadership. who is the president....Lt. Genral. then who is the vice, ..Lt Gen then an invester will think of the issue ya iraq, afganstern, korea and the rest... they will not only think that they were brought in for productivity, they will think beyond that cs they know how harsh the millitary people can be... But i have hope that mar president will bring more good that hope to this count than good
For so many years, the government has always been blamed for the incompetence of civil servants. In his inauguration address, Seretse made it clear that he is a democrat, thats why he joined the army to defend it. He made it explicit that he wont deviate from the party manifesto but his individualism will be felt, which is okay, furthermore, he said that he will be selecting a productive team in the civil service, of which if you are a failure you will be substituted. Botswana is known world wide to be rich which is true, the government has got good policies and avails finance, it is these incompetent people who let it down. we need to get rid of this old ideologists with fast thinkers and practitioners.
on the issue of militarisation, yes! one may panic but there is nothing wrong in that. Soldiers are civil servants, why will Botswana fall short of expertise in some areas whilst we have capable people in the army? Any motswana can be deployed anywhere where his expertise are badly needed. It is true that the incompetence of some civil servants need a new command who can make them work. There is a lot of indiscipline in our civil service which only need people who are aware of discipline at the highest level to rescue the situation.
Furthermore, Seretse like any leader will want to surround himself with the people he trust. He served and groomed a lot of young blood in the army, if he feels that it is high time their expertise benefit the whole country, there is no problem, pula!
on the issue of Pono, it is indeed unfortunate that we are losing such a capable liberator. However, it appears that the honourable legislator was forewarned to abide and conform to the parliamentary caucus to avoid bringing the party at a disrepute. He would not abide despite this. To rub salt to an injury, he was living on his last chance after being warned for other acts of indiscipline that nearly costed him the primary elections. There is no democracy without a bit of dictatorship, as a historian I came to be convinced that democracy does not mean lawlessness, in democracy majority rules, Pono had the right to lobby for support while BDP met on their own, he was beaten, he was obliged to go with the party he is serving not to contradict it. It is painful to me to say the executive committee of domkrag is justified and history also says so. The people of Tonota need to be told of all facts surrounding this matter and if the majority plead with the party to forgive him, let that be honoured and with hope that the legislator come to respect the party that feeds him.