BDP majority frustrates change
Dolly Byrone Thebe | Monday August 30, 2021 09:41
Far from it, this is how best one can wrap up the ruling Botswana Democratic Party’s (BDP) disposition with respect to the views and motions from political rivals. In all fairness to the current generation of BDP legislators, this disposition is not new. It is part and parcel of the party’s cultural heritage that past generations bequeathed on the present.
The BDP-dominated Parliament is an impotent institution severely curtailed by an overbearing Executive. The doctrine of separation of powers exists on paper but in reality is not working. The opposition is relentless in its demand for constitutional reforms to beef up the doctrine of separation of powers. Welheminah Maswabi case proved how less independent the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) is. Justice Zein Kebonang had this to say in a recent judgement, “despite the doctrine of separation of powers, the position of DPP is however, not insulated from Executive authority or oversight. In terms of section 112(2) of the Constitution, the President’s power to appoint the DPP also extends to removing him from office.”
Strengthening of separation of powers is a matter of national interest requiring the support of all across the political divide, but the BDP majority continues to stand in the way of change in this direction. As things stand, Parliament cannot apply its mind objectively and independently on matters seeking its attention. Prospects for change are almost non- existent as long as the BDP maintains its numerical advantage in Parliament.
There are too many issues of national concern that require a robust and objective Parliament, capable of rising above the narrow confines of political boundaries.
But such a Parliament remains pie in the sky in Botswana. List of national issues requiring urgent attention are promulgation of the freedom of information, holding direct presidential elections, freeing Parliament from Executive control and influence, political party funding, reduction of the powers of Executive and independence of Ombudsman amongst others.
These issues have been on the table for donkey years and yet there is no progress made in the last 55 years. The BDP majority continues to smother with impunity our democracy and there is no indication of its readiness to yield.
When preparing the BDP troops to pre-empt and obstruct a Dumelang Saleshando motion on declaration of assets and liabilities in 2010, the Leader of the House, then vice president General Mompati Merafhe said: “We have a responsibility to stop Saleshando from making himself popular with the motion; we are not going to allow anyone to steal the limelight at our expense. We have the numbers; we come to Parliament in the strengths of our numbers. We are the majority and seriously everything (will be) done on our terms. Where have you seen an objective politician? Politicians are motivated by political considerations.”
What an honest admission on the part of the General! At least he was a man prepared to admit fallibility of the system. It is clearly evident that In the BDP we have a self serving organisation seeking at all times to sweep under the carpet ideas of national interests simply because they are coming from a perceived “wrong source”- the opposition camp.
This is no good at all. The BDP has penchant for succumbing to the temptation of maintaining and satisfying its appetite for populism and political expediency. The strategy is geared towards securing short-term interests at the expense of our long-term sustainable future and this includes a desire to win a fresh mandate at the next elections.
Presently, the BDP appears to have reached the apex of its pomposity and this conduct clearly manifests itself in the ongoing winter Parliament. The BDP’s obsession with its numerical strength continues to cloud its judgement of matters of national interests.
This behaviour is no longer a secret as it is on public display on national television almost on a daily basis. The ruling party continues to traverse the unfortunate path of placing party interests (party caucus) ahead of national interests. Ideas generated by the opposition, however, sound they may be don’t see light of the day due to the ‘dictatorship’ of the majority. Right now, the nation is facing some unprecedented health crisis requiring collective wisdom and unity of purpose of mind. COVID-19 knows no boundaries.
The ruling party should play a leading role in rallying the nation behind the noble cause defeating the formidable and unrelenting enemy in the form of COVID-19. This is no time to play politics or think of what will happen in 2024. It’s time to save lives and the BDP must embrace the opposition and all who care to assist in the fight against COVID-19.
The pandemic is a stubborn enemy that does not only threaten to decimate our population but has also started bringing our economy to its knees.
The BDP is failing to provide inspirational leadership in a moment of crisis. President Ronald Reagan must have seen this day coming when in his January 20, 1980 inaugural address said: “In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem.” Yes, the BDP government is the problem.
The crises we face have been compounded by absence of strong leadership. Just like in a war, those in leadership should demonstrate exemplary leadership especially in harnessing our national resources to achieve a common good.
History is littered with examples of leaders, who when their nations were confronted with war, chose to transcend narrow political boundaries by embracing ideas from the opposition.
The American president, Abraham Lincoln formed a Cabinet of rivals comprising friends and foes while navigating the 1860s civil war and Winston Churchill formed a war Cabinet drawing members across the political divide.
The actions of these leaders rekindled patriotic and national feelings resulting in successful prosecution of their respective war efforts. The ruling party should in times of crisis look and exploit opportunities that bring the nation much closer together and slow down on divisive issues.
Despite objection from the opposing camp, the BDP is vehemently pushing the controversial and unprecedented acquisition of an 8km by 21km piece of land in the Northwest Tourism Hub for purposes of erecting what would become Botswana’s first Presidential resort.
The resort we hear would entertain guests of the President. One wonders why in the midst of a health crisis this project has become priority and whose interests it is going to serve.
Our young people are crying for land and government is struggling to address the land hunger. Instead government is becoming a land grabber.
All in all, the BDP is a bigheaded organisation, which appears to have overstayed its welcome.
“There is no known cure for a big head. The best we can hope for is that it will swell and burst,” says George Horace Lorimer.