3 April 2009
editorial
Time flies. It is a full year since President Ian Khama took office as President of the Republic of Botswana on April Fools Day of 2008.
First year in the presidency calls for all forms of reviews and evaluation. It is only through such reviews that we can gauge whether our country is being driven in the right direction. President Khama came at a time when the world economy, although it took long to detect, had entered a difficult phase.
Big economies had entered a credit crunch, which before long had degenerated into a financial crisis. Khama's answer to productivity and service delivery has been the setting up of various innovation hubs as the main cogs that would drive the economy. Before these hubs could be in full swing the world economy took a beating and the Botswana economy began limping.
Khama's magic wand of innovation hubs will now have to be remodelled upon these harsh economic realities. The reality however is that we expect Khama to mobilise his team and come up with answers that can save Botswana from this harsh economic onslaught. Financial crisis or no crisis we expect Khama to conjure up a watertight economic strategy that could save this nation. If he fails history will not be kind to him merely because there was a crisis - crises are there for foresighted leaders to wade through.
If there is any aspect of Khama's leadership that calls for intrusive inspection it is his much trumped adherence to transparency and respect for democracy and democratic institutions.
It is ironic that on the eve of his first anniversary in office President Khama was expected to offer a statement to the DCEC on what he knows about alleged corruption in the Nchindo case in which state land was allegedly obtained corruptly. Press reports indicate that Khama has not given the statement to the DCEC. The same reports indicate that early on in the investigations Khama was made aware of the case.
We do not know why Khama failed to make a statement particularly given the seriousness of the case. We do not want to prejudge the case or make unwarranted comments on it but we are worried that the failure to produce the statement, could send a wrong signal.I n our view the President should have been forthcoming and readily availed himself to offer a statement to DCEC on what he knows on the commission or non commission of the alleged corrupt act. If Khama is not forthcoming why should any citizen be helpful when investigators and prosecutors come calling?
His call to ban cabinet ministers not to avail themselves for party, positions in the ruling party under the guise that he is broadening leadership does not wash. Khama should be worried by the emerging trend in his party where his wishes are eventually rammed down the party's throat as some badly disguised resolutions. Asked how we view his first year in office we would say without flinching, 'we see huge contours of a dictator with unbridled passion of having his way at all cost'.
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