Ramsay almost calls Mogae a liar
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Tuesday August 19, 2014 17:08
“As a democratic Government, we respect opinions and welcome criticism from all quarters. This is as true for retired political leaders as it is of any other Motswana,” The statement was in direct contrast to Mogae’s assertion President Ian Khama’s administration had become averse to dissent and no longer observed the rule of law.
He further says, “and Botswana did not simply deport people, contrary to Mogae’s assertion Botswana had deported over 2000 potential investors. As any other country, Botswana had security considerations when it came to which foreigners should stay within its borders, “he said.
Terrorists, drug and human traffickers, arms dealers and poachers were not welcome. To that end, both international and local observers could be assured Botswana remained committed to building an open society that welcomed the participation of foreign nationals and investment.
He said in pursuit of this objective, government adopted a ‘Botswana Excellence Strategy’ that specifically promotes an enabling environment for doing business in Botswana.
“This commitment is reflected in the importance Government attaches to not only maintaining, but further fine tuning, its administrative institutions and legislative framework for external skills transfer and investment,” he said.
Ramsay added Botswana’s overall attractiveness as a location for investment was attested to by the 2014 Baseline Profitability Index, in which the country was ranked first among 112 countries.
“While opening its doors to outside participation in the economy, this Government likewise also remains committed to promoting citizen participation in the economy through proactive citizen empowerment initiatives as well as upholding longstanding labour laws with regard to the enforcement of legitimate expectations of localisation.”
He said balancing the need for foreign participation and citizen empowerment in the economy remained a challenge to the Government, as it was for previous administrations.
To that end, said Ramsay, the requirements for residence and business permits were constantly reviewed to simplify and in some cases eliminate unnecessary processes.
“Numerous independent international ratings provide what is arguably the best testament to Botswana continued status as an open society with an open economy grounded in democratic good governance based on transparency and the rule of law,” he said in apparent answer to Mogae’s statement that Ian Khama’s administration had thrown out the window democracy and rule of law.
“It is thus with the utmost respect that we find it necessary to respond to a few points that were raised by the former President Festus Mogae at an African Leadership Forum held last month in Tanzania. We do so in recognition that there is public interest in the points that were raised,” Ramsay continued.
When responding to specific questions put before him at the Dar es Salaam panel discussion, Mogae had told the gathering that Botswana was regressing. The former president noted among other things, that Botswana government under his successor, Khama, was regressing from its longstanding commitment to an economy that was open to foreign participation in the context of the number of foreign nationals who had for various reasons left our country.
He also said Khama’s administration had become averse to criticism and had no respect for the rule of law.