The Bachelor President
By Lekopanye Mooketsi
Correspondent
| Monday March 31, 2008 00:00


For the first time, Botswana will not have a First Lady. This might cause a headache for protocol. It is not clear whether the incoming president supports the marriage institution.
Khama nearly got married a few years ago after he got engaged to a Gaborone dentist, Dr Nomsa Mbere. In fact most of the formalities were done and the only thing that remained was to set the wedding date.
But then Khama's mother, Lady Ruth Khama passed away when the wedding preparations were on. It is not known what happened after that since nobody has talked about the never to be marriage. Even people close to Khama, including his uncles and confidante, Isaac Kgosi do not want to say anything on the issue. They have always pointed out that this is a personal matter for the Vice-President. Even Mbere herself has remained mum on the sensitive matter.
At some stage she succeeded First Lady Barbara Moage as president of the Botswana Red Cross Society. People assumed that she was being groomed for her future role as the First Lady because the Red Cross position traditionally comes with the territory.
Ian Khama is obliged to marry since he is the paramount chief of the Bangwato. Tradition dictates that the chief should produce heirs to take over from him.
However, former opposition leader and political analyst Michael Dingake says there is nothing wrong to have a president who is not married. 'I don't think there is anything wrong. It is his choice,' he said.
Dingake said traditionally, a leader is expected to have a wife. He said a leader without a wife is regarded as a young man though the fact that Khama is not married, will not affect his duties. He said people should not force Khama to marry. He added that if Khama is forced to tie the knot, he might have an unhappy marriage. 'It is better to leave him alone,' he said.
However, Dingake added that the fact that Khama is not married, would diminish his status as president.
But Khama is not the first president in Africa who is not married. The president of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Joseph Kabila was not married until later in his predidency. Even the former president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela was not married when he took over following his divorce from Winnie Mandela. Mandela later hitched Graca Machel, the widow of the late president of Mozambique, Samora Machel.