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A call for assertive culture
THATO CHWAANE
Staff Writer
8/13/2004 1:34:25 AM (GMT +2)
A University of Botswana lecturer, Log Raditlhokwa has called for a culture that promotes political assertiveness. He said this when presenting on ‘Culture and Political Participation’ at a seminar based on the Human Development Report (HDR) 2004 at the beginning of the week. The theme of the report is ‘Cultural liberty in today’s diverse world.’
He said in a system where people are not empowered, electorate votes can be bought. Raditlhokwa said for people to demand change, they needed to actively participate in politics. “If people stop demanding handouts, they would stop voting for the ruling party,” he said.
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He said productivity is low in a culture where there is low political assertiveness. The social work lecturer said it was important for people to feel they deserved a better life. Raditlhokwa said people should recognise they have rights to reclaim their lives and dignity. He said being politically assertive would mean challenging the laws. “Nobody is going to give you power on a silver platter but we need to challenge situations that are oppressive to our people,” he said. He added that Botswana has a culture that promotes lack of political participation and people should not be pointing fingers but act. In response a participant at the seminar said that to claim the electorates are bought undermines voters and suggests they are not wise. Another participant pointed out that poor people do not have choices.
Dutch Leburu, an attorney from Monthe Marumo and Company, said it was the most disadvantaged people who have less access to justice. He was presenting on Culture and Access to justice. He mentioned the recent Gantsi trial and said that in the interest of Basarwa and for sufficient access to justice, there is need for a Mosarwa judge or assessor in the case. He said language was an important factor in access to justice. Leburu gave an example of the Brown-Motswetla case in which two Basarwa men who faced execution were rescued by the High Court. He said that often interpretation and translation is lacking in court cases. He said a majority of disadvantaged people sought help from the Legal Clinic at the University of Botswana, which is manned by students.
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