Intolerance should not overtake botho

Mmegi Editor | Wednesday September 17, 2014 12:35

The run-up to the elections is proving to be bumpy, almost acrimonious in some instances, where recent events have been a poor display of tolerance. The accusations thrown back and forth by political parties, the alleged assaults of politicians by national security agents and the recent arrest of a journalist have sent electorates on edge. 

More disturbing has been the recent war of words between the governments of Botswana and the United States of America on the detention and charging of an editor with sedition. All this smacks of those in the corridors of power losing their senses, which could potentially send the country into turmoil.  A sense of panic is gradually gripping members of the public who live in fear of secret agents who go into their homes in the cloak of night. 

Some political activists also speak of dreading these so-called agents of the government allegedly acting in the interest of national security.  The prevailing atmosphere is nothing less than that of Zimbabwe in the run-up to the 2008 presidential elections, in which opponents of Robert Mugabe were killed, threatened or attacked.  The same can be said of the 2013 Zimbabwean elections, which were also held under a relatively hostile atmosphere. Even former Vice President Mompati Merafhe called the northern neighbour’s elections a sham and branded them a ‘circus’ upon his return from an observer mission. 

Moreover, the government of Botswana differed with the SADC observer mission findings, calling for a re-run. It is surprising that in the countdown to Election Day, the very same government deems it normal to arrest journalists, and remains silent when opposition activists are killed or maimed.  More surprising is that the same government that has falsely presented itself as the epitome of tolerance, good governance, and believer in rule of law is now accused of abuse of office.

We call on the Commissioner of Police Keabetswe Makgophe to reassure Batswana that their lives, property, and those of their loved ones are safe. We call upon him to further ensure that perpetrators of these unlawful acts of intimidation against citizens of this country will face the full wrath of the law. More than anything, we long for the peace that prevailed in the previous elections to reign in these ones.  We also call for botho in what is the most crucial election this country will ever hold.

                                                                   Today’s thought

                           “When one with honeyed words but evil mind persuades the mob, great woes befall the state.”

 

                                                                 -Euripides, Orestes