Khama's reign not too impressive

Correspondent | Friday February 14, 2014 16:37

 

After serving for 10 years as Vice President during Festus Mogae's tenure, Khama assumed the First Citizen status on the back of the succession plan.

Whether it was on account of being the son to the founding president of Botswana or due to his reputation as commander of the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) or both, Khama's ascension to the highest office in the land was met with excited approval by many, even in opposition circles.

Granted, the dissenting voice by many who doubted his democratic credentials was audible even from the beginning. They now gleefully say, 'I told you so' whenever they feel vindicated by Khama's actions or inactions.

Coming at the time when the political fortunes of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) were at an all-time low, many expected the Khama magic to achieve a whitewash in the 2009 general elections.

The BDP had, in 2004 under Mogae garnered 52 percent of the popular vote. Khama was expected to take the party back to its glory days, but his impact in 2009 was minimal, increasing the popular vote by only 1 percent. His supporters justified this less than impressive record that it was too early to judge his pulling power, as he had been in office just over a year.

Khama had endeared himself to the voters by being accessible. During his 'meet and greet' walkabouts and surprise visits to government offices, he sometimes offered quick solutions to their problems.

He also made the right noises regarding greed and corruption such as when he was VP, he famously called Members of Parliament vultures when they sought a salary hike. Not only did this diminish the status of the MPs, but it portrayed him as a selfless and compassionate politician who has only the interests of the poor at heart.

Significantly, it was during Khama's presidency that the BDP won all the Gaborone constituencies including Gaborone South which had been a BNF stronghold for decades.

Perhaps troubled by the poor record of former military men in Africa with respect to their performance and conduct as heads of state, he had assured all and sundry during his inauguration on April Fool's Day in 2008 that he had joined the army to defend democracy. Significantly, 'Democracy' topped the list of his 5Ds which became his roadmap with 'Development,' 'Dignity,' 'Delivery' and 'Discipline' being the rest.

With four more years to go, people are divided over his performance. His opponents are even more vocal about his failures.

Veteran opposition politician, Michael Dingake, insists that Khama has not defended democracy as he promised. 'This is because he is not a democrat. He does not interact with the press or people who can think at his level.

'When BOFEPUSU sought to engage him, he refused to meet them,' said Dingake, noting that this was a sign of intolerance and disregard for social dialogue.

Dingake accuses Khama of having failed the electorate.

'Ipelegeng should not be a substitute for job creation. Instead of empowering people by providing them with proper jobs, the poor have become the objects of his handouts through Ipelegeng. What we need is more beneficiation of our minerals in order to give our people dignified employment,' said Dingake.

The founding president of the opposition Botswana Congress Party (BCP) also accuses Khama of insensitivity. 'Because he was fingered for the death of John Kalafatis, he should have gone public and cleared his name.

He never did that nor even offered condolences to the family.'

Even more shocking, said Dingake, was when the President pardoned Kalafatis' killers.

Dingake said if Khama was a democrat, the Francistown West by-election would not have been postponed on the basis that there are conflicts within the party he leads.

'The by-election was postponed on the back of a fraudulent petition only because the party was desperate following its failure to engage Whyte Marobela due to its arrogance,' he charged.

After Marobela, the runner-up in the primaries controversially won by Ignatius Moswaane successfully interdicted the party from nominating a candidate, the party was advised to engage Marobela.

The president of MELS, Themba Joina, does not see Khama making it beyond 2014.

'Khama will be a one term president. He will lose power because he has no respect for the workers,' said the firebrand, standing on a BCP ticket in Tonota.

He says BDP members no longer rate Khama highly; 'What happened during the primary elections when his lieutenants lost is actually a revolt against him.'

Also, said Joina, Khama has failed to diversify the economy. 'The private sector in general is dying and our tourism sector is increasingly being dominated by the same people.

It is not in the hands of Batswana.'

The deputy secretary general of the Botswana Federation of Public Sector Unions (BOFEPUSU), Ketlhalefile Motshegwa says Khama's presidency has seen to the decline of democracy.

 'This is a President who has always displayed contempt for civic society organisations such as unions, the private press, and academia thus stifling the principle of pluralism,' he said, adding that the Khama government has been oppressive to the workers.

Motshegwa accuses the Khama administration of having failed to fight poverty, create jobs and performing below par in localisation.

Under Khama, argued Motshegwa, corruption had escalated and the nation has been gripped by fear with the country showing all the hallmarks of a security state.

'Democracy is collapsing under this administration. 

'We now have crentralised style of leadership where all policy formation is fixed at the highest office while the ordinary people are blindfolded with walkabouts as representing consultation,' said Motshegwa.