I have got a feeling that some people wish they could have been the ones born to Seretse and Ruth Khama. I sense petty jealousy from petty politicians and feelings of ‘if I were Ian Khama’ in most of what is written by his detractors especially journalists who are members of Botswana’s opposition parties.
It is very true that the Khama name has been revered in all corners of Botswana from a long time ago. History has minuted testimony to the pivotal role played by the Khama’s in the building of this nation called Botswana. The Khama dynasty did not start with Ian Khama Seretse Khama and it may not end with him. Think of Khama the great, who together with Sechele and Bathoen went to seek for Batswana’s protection from Boers Britain. Think of Tshekedi Khama who among his many reputable endeavours, masterminded construction of colleges like Moeng. The Khama magic trickles down that lineage to Seretse Khama who is the founder of Botswana Democratic Party, who contributed immensely to the democracy we now cherish. Probably without his contribution to bringing democracy to Botswana the dogs barking could have long been muffled. The dogs couldn’t be barking as we speak. The dogs could be dying with an insatiable desire to bark but not being allowed by an oppressive master.
Seretse Khama, together with members from other tribes formed a party of repute which has long stood the test of time. The Botswana Democratic Party was not formed on tribal lines as can be seen from its track record. Its first vice president was not a Mongwato like the Khama’s though there were some aspiring Bangwato. Seretse Khama, being a visionary chose Ketumile Masire, a Mongwaketse to be his vice president. He did not choose his cousin and childhood friend Lenyeletse Seretse. He did not choose Moutlakgola Nwako from the central district. That is why the party triumphed over opposition parties full of tribalism like the Botswana Peoples Party more aligned to the Bakalanga.
Seretse Khama’s son, Ian Khama, had every right like any other citizen to join the Botswana Defence Force. His performance and dedication to duties assigned him made him the youngest Brigadier in the world. What an achiever. Batswana regardless of political affiliation should be proud of him. He later became the Commander of the Botswana Defence Force having deputised Mompati Merafhe who is not from the royal family of the Bangwato. Ian Khama Seretse Khama was later identified by the Botswana Democratic Party as a charismatic fellow who can use his charisma and family track record to further build the party. He was recruited and encouraged to resign from the force and join active politics, which he did. He fortunately is proving to be indeed a force to reckon with as can be seen from his immense contribution in the campaign for BDP towards 2004 elections.
I am speaking of a man who is not opposed in his constituency by anyone out of the close to 1.8 million population of Botswana. What cowardice. Even those who claim to be brainier and more capable than him and say he is clumsy could not muster an ounce of courage and stand against him - at least to promote our democracy. People, do you want to say you failed to stand against him only because he is a Khama? I doubt that.
I think this man delivers to his constituents so much that any form of campaign like house to house campaign becomes impossible because his constituents do not entertain any garbage and unrealistic promises from any opposition aspirant. They have their man. They trust their man as a man who delivers. Jealousy will swallow you but they don’t care because as long as he still delivers they will stick by him.
Bagaetsho or bakanyikwedu, ke raya gore you may call me what you like. Call me a bootlicker, cheerleader or whatever printable or unprintable phrase you may think of. Ian Khama Seretse Khama is a great man for this country and I wholly support his endeavours to build our nation.
Of course I concur with those who say he should be taken to task if he errs because like everyone else he is human and he is bound to make mistakes. If he makes mistakes let him be shown these mistakes and he should abide by the laws of the country because if he doesn’t he will be a spoiling the Khama name. He will be destroying all that which was built by his fore-fathers over generations.
Ian Khama, here are some words of wisdom. A wise leader is one who listens to his subjects and ends up looking like he is not the master but the servant himself. So far I think you have been doing exactly that. I don’t know where the bickering and pandemonium emanate from. But, anywhere like your cousin Gasebalwe wrote about your fathers paternal uncle - sometimes dogs bark at their master.
If throughout the history of the world we have had and still have some family names dominating politics in even some of the mature democracies like the United States of America why can’t we have that in a fledgling one like Botswana. If the Kennedy’s and Bush’s matter in American politics why can’t the Khama’s and Bathoen’s matter in Botswana.
The onus is now on the Boko’s, Raditlhokwa’s and Chebani’s to also make their names even with the Khama’s, Bathoen’s Bush’s and Kennedy’s it had to start somewhere. It had to start with someone.
