Hail the oscars, hail the budget speech
Tumie Modise | Monday March 17, 2014 15:05
I watched as the celebrities’ walked and pranced the red carpet like the stars they really are.
I watched as the press jostled for best positions to capture every inch of the spectacle and how some of them occasionally twirled around the red carpet to show off their designer clothes to fashion journalists. I also know with certainty that most Batswana watch this event religiously and even look forward to it every year.
But how come we don’t have anything that remotely resembles the Oscars or even the SAMA’s in this country? A few months ago I stumbled across music awards on our national broadcaster, BTV.
I am not sure whether we even have the actor’s awards. But a month ago Parliament officially opened after a long break. As is customary, Parliament opened with the annual Budget Speech day. Batswana always look forward to this day for many reasons.
It had been a while since I witnessed the opening of Parliament and so this time around I just decided to tag along. Apart from the usual business of the day, even after all these years, nothing has really changed save for except a few different faces. The opening of the Botswana Parliament is best described as one big boring day. The atmosphere at Parliament on that Monday was somber as usual. Perhaps it is the fear of the unknown or the anticipation of the budget that makes people look dejected on this day, but whatever the case is, the day is always a bore!
A red carpet was laid down as usual. I could not help noticing how our legislators seemed to be the only people comfortably walking down the carpet.
The rest of the VIP’s (or whatever they are called), walked on the edge of the carpet while others literally tiptoed around it. Most looked embarrassed even.
The usual BX drivers were all over the place with their navy blue suits while other senior civil servants could be seen hurrying along and following MP’s into the Parliament buildings.
Parliament opening is by no means a fashion show, its serious official business. But nonetheless we can all agree that it’s a very important day on our calendar. It is also common knowledge that our country has no celebrities nor do we even subscribe to that culture. In fact, the only person who seems to enjoy celebrity status in this country is whoever is the president of the day. For the rest though, they are virtually unknown.
With this mindset, I am afraid that we will never have real trendsetters and celebrities in this country and that we will always worship self made celebrities in other countries, completely ignoring our own.
So when I was watching the activities at Parliament on that Monday, a thought occurred to me. What is even painful, we actually pay to even see them on TV and print media!
It occurred to me that we actually have people in this country that fit the profile perfectly. They are not all politicians, but they are certainly also movers and shakers in our country. On budget day, I saw many influential and moneyed people whom most of us have never even heard of before. By ‘moneyed’, I do not mean the ‘tender boy ‘types nor the usual working class.
Present on that day were a few unknown faces, men and women who silently drive the economy of this country but still remain relatively unknown. It is easy to spot these types because they even dress and walk differently. I even have a feeling that none of their cars were bought at Mogoditshane.
So wouldn’t it therefore be nice if next year for a change, we make this otherwise boring day a little exciting? What’s more, Parliament could also take the hint and like our neighbouring country, make this evening a wholly ball gown and tuxedos affair? Wouldn’t it be worthwhile to give everyone something to actually look forward to on this day, apart from the usual predictable and lengthy budget speech?
This year a high number of legislators were even shown live on TV snoring away during the proceedings! Most importantly, wouldn’t it be exciting to hijack this day and recreate our very own little Oscars at the expense of our often tense politicians, then give our other unknown celebs a platform to also shine?
Who knows, we can even get to fine known fashion serial offenders like my area MP on this day and donate the money to charity..Is anyone with me on this one?