Analyst denounces BDP achievements magazine
Chakalisa Dube - Lebogang Mosikare | Monday September 11, 2023 06:00
On the campaign trail leading to the 2019 General Election, President Masisi promised to transform the economy of the country, create jobs on a large scale and run an inclusive government.
But four years into his presidency, there is a swelling narrative that he has failed to chart a new path of development for the country. Masisi’s detractors, especially in the opposition ranks, have denounced him as a man who deploys flowery rhetoric while falling short on delivery on his promises. In the main, he has been accused of running a "corrupt and less inclusive" government.
There is even growing sentiments that Masisi might struggle to appeal to the masses at the next polls owing to the growing narrative that he has failed to deliver on his key election promises. It is even clear that the opposition’s 2024 General Election campaign will be anchored around portraying Masisi as a man who does not keep his word.
In political gatherings, the opposition often accuse him of failing to deliver many of his post-election promises especially creating jobs, which is now estimated to be above 30%. Even key entities like trade unions are of the view that Masisi has been a disappointment because their relationship with government is unstable. Key structures such as the Public Service Bargaining Council (PSBC), a platform that guides government’s association with public service trade unions are dysfunctional.
This is even though in May 2018, Masisi promised that the PSBC will start its functions timely. Government has been accused of stalling the launch of the PSBC by attempting to incorporate the terms of reference that are not favourable to trade unions. Already, Masisi has shown in various public settings that he will use the new gov't/De Beers deal as his rally point for the elections. Against the odds, Botswana recently got a relatively improved diamond sales deal after months of taxing negotiations with De Beers.
That has earned Masisi the label of a reformist, but some people maintain that they no longer hold the same hope that he can fix the country’s problems as they did in 2019. They still maintain that he has not delivered many of his key election promises. Masisi appears to be a man who is seemingly aware of the growing narrative that he is a man of empty promises and such depiction could be costly for him at the next general elections. His posture is that of a man who is eager to get rid of the narrative. Analysing dynamics at the BDP national conference in Palapye last Saturday, it is evident that Masisi is keen to work hard to change the storyline (that he has not delivered) and project himself as a man of his word in bid to convince voters to go for the BDP at the 2024 General Election. The launch of a party booklet (at the conference) called “Therisanyo Tsholetsa Domkrag, Journey of Achievements: Celebrating President Dr E.K Masisi’s leadership success (2018-2023)”, is a case in point.
The booklet details the party’s achievements against what Masisi promised the electorate since he came into power. This to some extent is a clear suggestion that the President want to tactfully fight the perception that he is not an achievement-oriented man. If the book and its contents are widely embraced by the electorate, Masisi and the BDP could triumph in 2024. The booklet’s foreword partly reads, “In fostering democracy and the rule of law as the "Fifth Estate," our government's relationship with the media has evolved under President Masisi's transparent, open, and regular engagements. Moreover, our President's international engagements have created a positive global footprint, resulting not only in bilateral agreements but also in major international events held on our soil, elevating Botswana's global prominence.
Under Masisi's astute leadership, our country has achieved remarkable strides such as: (a) Enabling citizen participation in the constitutional review, (b) Elevating capable women to key leadership positions, (c) Focusing on the cultural and creative industry for employment, (d) Pioneering a knowledge-based economy, (e) Expanding access to essential services like water and electricity, (f) Forging transformative mining ventures, (g) Expanding residential property allocation and funding, (h) Catalysing aggressive investment in agriculture, (i) Spearheading pioneering changes in education policy, (j) Revitalising strategic regions like SPEDU, (k) Initiating a campaign to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, (l) Forging a historic partnership with De Beers, which guarantees Botswana an immediate 30% share of rough stones, escalating to 50% over a decade and (m) Securing a 24% stake in HB Antwerp, enhancing the country's role in the diamond value chains.” University of Botswana political analyst, Adam Mfundisi, is of the opinion that the recently launched booklet is an attempt by Masisi to blow his own trumpet about his achievements but says that the reality on the ground is totally different from what the president says. He doubts that the booklet will do enough to help Masisi change the depiction that he is a man of empty promises and sway voters in favour of the BDP. Citing a few examples of Masisi’s failures, Mfundisi says that Masisi has failed to address the issue of unemployment especially among the youth which is rising at an exponential rate every year. “Ever since Masisi assumed the presidency, he has shied away from stating how many jobs he will create during his term of office. This on its own shows that Masisi is clueless about creating the jobs that he so much flaunts at any given platform,” said Mfundisi. Mfundisi also stated that it is in the public domain that opposition parties and civic society organisations are decrying that they had no input whatsoever prior to the formulation of the constitutional review process.
“The constitutional review process was a gimmick meant to cement the powers of the executive...,” Mfundisi observed. The political analyst also stated that there is a public outcry about the shortage of medication in public health facilities, which on its own is a good gauge that Masisi has not delivered on his promises. Mfundisi reiterated that the release of Masisi’s achievements booklet is nothing but a smokescreen to hoodwink the public into believing that he has been doing something meaningful while the situation on the ground says something contrary to that. In synopsis, Mfundisi opines that Masisi’s rhetoric belie his claim that he has achieved major strides since assuming the presidency because he has not addressed pertinent issues that affect the public. Commenting on the BDP journey of achievements booklet, another UB political analyst Professor Zibani Maundeni said the issues outlined in the booklet show that Masisi is delivering on things that he promised Batswana in 2018 once he assumes the presidency.
Maundeni said compared to Masisi's predecessor, Ian Khama, the former has delivered more than the latter. “For the first time, we see that there is a list of what Masisi has delivered, which is much better than during Khama’s presidency. Whether the deliverables are perfect or not is a matter of debate,” said Maundeni. When quizzed that some of the things such as the constitutional review process that Masisi is trumpeting as one of his major achievements were marred by controversy than their intended objectives, Maundeni reiterated that there will always be debates in favour of or against whether Masisi has delivered or not.
After Masisi single handedly appointed the commission to undertake the constitutional review exercise, the country’s largest opposition bloc, Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), held a press conference where it rejected every single member of the commission because it had no input in their selection among others. Probed on what may be the reasons for some sections of the public, especially the opposition, to peddle the narrative that Masisi has not delivered on his 2018 elections manifesto, Maundeni said that he does not know the motive behind that.
He however said: “I don’t know. Masisi’s term of governance has not yet ended. Maybe those who are saying Masisi has not delivered on his promises are quick to judge him. I think that Masisi should be given time to complete his term and then be judged after that.”