Civil society has been rattled by the peace overtures of a new president determined to distance himself from the legacy of his predecessor. Perhaps it is all about cautious optimism; a ceasefire of sorts. But civil society seems to have gone back to the barracks and only the nuisance fire of a fragmented opposition militia, fanned by the winds of BDP factional fights, can be heard in the political streets.
Meanwhile, focus on governance remains materially diverted by ruling party factional fights. A besieged president must rule, even as he faces a political prosecution for the unwritten offence of grand betrayal, the sanction of which is the political guillotine. In both media and political discourse, little is talked about of genuine national interest. It is all about Khama and Masisi. It is all about the grand betrayal. Political discourse is polluted by conjecture on the motives of the belligerents all determined to fight to the death. As the elephants fight and the grass suffers, civil society, the church inclusive, wait on the sidelines for the victor. When the battle has been won, they will emerge out of the hideouts to burn incense to the gods of the victor and to profess commitment to an abiding partnership in the quest for national progress. And they will present gifts.
