Khama surprises many at HLCC meet

MONKAGEDI GAOTLHOBOGWE
Staff Writer | Friday November 14, 2008 00:00

The height of his non-conformity was the President's opening remarks, usually the highlight of this once-a-year meeting. Scores of private sector players who were hoping to make contributions at the meeting were turned away at the door by plain-clothes intelligence officers for coming late.

Another HLCC feature that did not appear is the Permanent Secretary to the President's (PSP) speech. The media is traditionally invited to cover the official opening and the President's opening remarks, but is barred from presentations of progress reports by all sectors, including civil society.

But even that was not to be yesterday. Not even the speeches, that is. The President uses the HLCC as a wide-spectrum barometer of where they stand in the country and where they are headed for.

Even the government media - BOPA, Btv, and Radio Botswana - were frustrated as they failed to get a copy of President Khama's opening remarks yesterday. The daylong event started with a prayer at 8 o'clock sharp. Members of the media were then asked to leave as Khama began calling on ministries to make their presentations.Government spokesman, Jeff Ramsay, was at pains to explain what transpired - or did not - yesterday: 'Somehow someone who was supposed to bring the (President's) speech did not do so,' he apologised shortly after a break. 'I'm sorry that you guys have not been able to cover the event as usual.'

Scores of private company executives were turned away at the door by security men who said Khama had instructed them to turn away anyone who arrived after 8 o'clock.

'Khama said no-one should be allowed in after 8,' a clean-shaven security man in a suit told disappointed company executives who were asked to write their names and - sorry - go back.