Khama Not The Problem, We Are�
| Monday March 31, 2014 16:38
Yet people didn’t know who he was “politically speaking”… so excited that we didn’t even care to know how this man, who had just been coerced to resign his commandership of the army and placed “unelected” one heart beat away from the number one citizenry status of the land -over night. YES, Unelected in a “ country “ that is regarded a shining beacon of hope in African democracy, our beloved “ Botswana” ...Never had a chance to find out who he was, politically…. Given the ministerial position of all ministries “Presidential Affairs”, heck, why not even create a new post, A Super Ministerial position... an unelected former commander of the army elevated to be a super minister in control of all democratically elected parliamentarians overnight!
The country was so excited because the sheriff had reported to ordained duty and destiny. Finally there was a man of action in the office. A man we had heard so little of other than being the commander of the army.
We applauded as he called bluff at ministers and parliamentarians who allegdly were in it only for the glory! Praised him as he opened his doors for everyone to come and report anything and everything, sponsoring football tournaments, and engaging with the public the best way only he could and did. We all loved him, well at least the overwhelming majority! Oblivious to his open hatred of politics! Yes, even as he publicly proclaimed that politics wasn’t his thing “I hate politics and politicians, they are like vultures ...He was quoted as saying, and boy were we not so excited by this fresh outlook to politics!
Here was a man who was about to bring the greedy politicians down to earth where all of us live…basadi , mogolokwane please… a great leader is in town ... Yes he uttered the sentiments “I hate politics and I never wanted to be one” and we ululated!
We ordain this trained military man, who had until then kept away from the public eye while at the helm of the army (where the leader is the rule of law, the executioner and the deliberator) , he is the rightful heir to the Bamangwato throne, and, oh lest we forget, his father was a man of great stature. Indeed the first president of our country, Sir Seretse Khama.
There is power in the name that is Khama, he surely has all the credentials to not only unite the BDP but to lead our country to unheralded prosperity. Not for a second did we pause to consider that unlike his son, Sir Seretse loved politics, In fact, so much that when asked to choose between politics and chieftaincy, he without hesitation, relinquished the latter! Yes, way before he was even guaranteed presidency a pretty uncalculated risk if you ask me! That was Ian’s dad, a man who loved democracy and politics so much that he rejected his ordained right to kingdom-ship, where the king is the keeper and executioner of the law of the land.
President Ian Khama has never been the problem, he certainly is not the problem now even by Mma Nasha’ own admission. We are, we enabled him! Not just the BDP, the Batswana, who never dare to question any decisions the government takes, unless if it is about allowances or lack of a pay rise, the Batswana who follow blindly out of excitement rather than conviction.
The Batswana who love the status quo and never like to rock the boat aka “ o a bo o tla fitlhela dilo di siame hela o bo o batla gore tlhakatlhakanyetse.” From all walks of life, we facilitate these complications. We the people permit this; we separate ourselves from the government only when it stings?
If we can’t have credible opposition to act on our behalf to counteract the ruling party, we the people should learn to speak out, for the rule of law, familiarise yourselves with the constitution of your country, So you can have the platform to challenge the deliberations put forward by your politicians.
Lebogang Dibeela