And what is with the cults of personality in our politics?

Lawrence Ookeditse | Wednesday April 9, 2014 15:07

These cults one can observe within all our significant political parties: The Botswana Democratic Party has this, the Botswana National Front has this, the Botswana Congress Party has this, and the relatively new Botswana Movement for Democracy has its own fair share. Is this desirable? Let’s clarify cults of personality first. Here we look at the tendency to see leaders as heroic to be worshipped characters that we flatter so much that those who criticize them we see as committing sin of some kind.

Across the different establishments, I notice a certain type of romanticizing of the dear leader a great deal of times that analysis of the leader’s actual policies and record in leadership is demonized. I have no problem with people defending their leader’s records- I have a problem with people making it seem as though pointing out the poor accomplishments, bad beliefs and principles the leader may harbour is tantamount to witchcraft. 

But this is a problem that is brought about by the failure by our parties to stand for some principles and be steadfast on them. The BCP I thought was doing better than most when it comes to this, until I noticed that the principles altered each time their leader is involved- simply put, the reactions to Spencer Mogapi’s articles on the party and its leader’s weaknesses (you know which articles am referring to) proved that they are no different. Some of the BNF faithful have shown that more recently with their statements of support for Duma Boko (whom I write about next in my blog-do not be shocked by my admiration of a particular trait in him).  With the BMD’Gomolemo Motswaledi I saw this manifest at a time when Sidney Pilane made it known he intended to challenge for the party presidency; for President Khama it also happens with some decisions on party and governance matters.

And the cult nurturers have a way to shoot down other party members who may choose to hold the leader accountable: those who point out these inconsistencies are said to be harming the party and leader’s prospects, to be reactionary, doing the opposition’s bidding or giving ammunition to the other. They thrive on fear mongering to dissuade dissent. But then again, listen to them as they attack members of the opposing parties as malope, bootlickers, yes man and such others.

Part of the problem is people in this country do not quite ask themselves: Why am I a Democrat, BCP, BNF or so. If they did,   they’d have answers like “I am a Democrat because I believe in the rule of law, in the Constitution, in social justice, in the separation between church and state, in a secular government, in clean government” and the like. Therefore, a democrat who believes their leader lives not up to these would be in a position to disagree with such leader.

Similarly, one would say “I am BCP because I believe in social justice, equality, ethical governance and accountability, minority rights and protections, a mix of the free market and government control” and the like. Once the upholding of these is seen as yardsticks of good leadership, only then will we move away from personality cults. Only then would following a leader be on the basis of the politics they speak, walk and live. Only then will you see a reduction in pathetic things such as ‘yoo ke batho wa ga Saleshando, or ke motho waga Khama or ke motho wag a Motswaledi or ke motho waga Boko’. And you wonder, how do leaders come to own people? 

If following is on basis of principles, the day the leader deviates, the following will also shrink. This is because it is dependent on the leader not merely being that person we name Lawrence but on the basis of that which the leader named Lawrence stands for, believes in and upholds.

If the Party and its leader deviate from those values, should we not point that out?  If our leader becomes goes rogue or acts in manner that is counter what we believe in, should all we can say be that the other leader is much more worst as a justification? In so doing, we are not keeping our side of the bargain as voters, as citizens, as party members. Leaders who have cults built around their persons eventually grow an aura of arrogance that does little to help society and undermines principles of democracy. 

So then, we should from now onwards let the “my-party-and-my-leader-right-or-wrong” people out there know that they are killing all of us. They exist in both the ruling and opposing parties, they mislead and they defend rogue characteristics of leaders- and remember every leader in the world has a part of theirs that’s rogue.  They should know theirs is an unprincipled and an immoral position.

If a leader’s policies or actions are not consistent with our expectations as citizens, as voters, as party members, then I argue it is our duty to point them out. Personality cults do not allow for this. And that's why I think personality cults are dangerous and detrimental to democracy.