Khama sees no corruption in govt
Onalenna Kelebeile | Tuesday September 9, 2014 12:05
President Ian Khama said this during a BDP Mmadinare constituency star rally held in Sefhophe over the weekend.
“There is no country without corruption or crime incidents, but it is up to each country how it fights corruption. Statistics have shown a decline in crime levels in the country. We set up the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime to investigate corruption and if we were corrupt we would not have set it up in the first place,” he said.
Khama added it was only in Botswana where corruption suspects are investigated to ensure transparency.
“It is only in Botswana where there is a ministry, a high court judge for corruption issues and prosecution specialising in corruption cases. Commonwealth has set up a corruption office here in Botswana because of our sound strategies of fighting crime. Botswana is rated the number one country in Africa with low corruption levels,” he said. He said Batswana should know that while accusers of the BDP were the opposition at the end of the day they should hold supreme the spirit of
Botho. That will help them to not abuse their freedom of speech by insulting others while spreading untruths, as was the case with the opposition.
Taking a jibe at a local newspaper Khama said he had observed there was another ‘Ian Khama’ who drove presidential cars around causing road accidents.
“The media is fond of talking about the Khama I do not know and I am looking forward to meeting that corrupt Khama,” he said.
He thus faulted opposition and some media houses for fuelling bad publicity and appealed to the electorate to vote for the BDP to avoid bloodshed and continuity of peace and tranquility in the country.
Khama also took a swipe at independent candidates who decided to go it alone after losing primary elections and dismissed them as power-hungry people.
“Even if they win we will never accept them back into our party. They must know that they are gone the moment they register with IEC during nominations. I am wondering how they are going to serve people without a party because they cannot become a government,” he said.
Khama explained that the problems emanating from Bulela Ditswe were due to the fact there are many capable people within the party. He said it did not mean that those who lost were useless but rather that there can only be one representative.
“If they are angry I request them to come round because the primaries are the only procedure to elect one candidate. They must also know that during the general elections we vote for the party not individual,” he said.
He added thee BDP could win all wards and constituencies if all voted and let go of grudges from the primary elections.