Big Five losers of 2014
| Friday December 19, 2014 09:33
Ian Khama and BDP
After five years abusing the State media to campaign for this year’s election, President Ian Khama and his ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) only managed to get 46 percent of the popular vote. This is despite the unprecedented coverage he got from Btv, Radio Botswana, and Daily News which featured him in the headlines almost everyday donating food hampers, blankets or food. Btv footage even showed people crying at the sight of Khama, some even confessing that they were lucky to touch him and would not wash their hands. Millions of Pula were spent on so-called poverty eradication workshops, which were nothing but free lunches for impoverished rural dwellers.
But not all is lost. The President fought with everything to de-throne his nemesis within, including former Speaker of the National Assembly Dr Margaret Nasha in favour of his chosen Gladys Kokorwe.
The following headlines are just a sample of the disregard for professionalism for appeasement of the leader by Btv, Daily News and Radio Botswana: Tautona oa kgathala. Tautona o itumeletse Pula. Tautona o aba dikobo. President Khama happy that the sun rises in the east. President Khama loves peace. Khama cares. Khama confident with win. Khama dismisses opposition. Khama happy.
Dumelang Saleshando and BCP
Former Member of Parliament for Gaborone Central and president of Botswana Congress Party (BCP) Dumelang Saleshando must be ruing the day he did not use his executive powers to join opposition coalition, the Umbrella for Democratic Change. Or maybe he is cursing the day he decided to follow the majority in his party. Sometimes the majority can be wrong and they got it wrong when they resolved that BCP should go solo in this year’s election when the public mood was for opposition unity. We hope that ‘Dums’ has dissolved his shadow cabinet, otherwise they will soon approach the courts demanding shadow conditions of service for cabinet members including salaries. Next time this kind of shadow cabinet is established, there should be a shadow salary. Imagine what the spouses and families of these ‘ministers’ are going through when they walk in the streets, people whisper and laugh; She is son, daughter, wife, husband of a shadow minister.
Daniel Kwelagobe
After 44 years in Parliament, veteran BDP politician Daniel Kwelagobe was beaten by a political greenhorn in Dr Tlamelo Mmatli who was in primary school when DK took his first steps into Parliament.
The end of an era for DK, who has postponed his retirement several times to give way for the younger Kabo Morwaeng. DK may just have to forget to try his luck again in 2019. Despite being launched twice by two former presidents Festus Mogae and Sir Ketumile Masire, and later by the Lieutenant General Ian Khama, the voters of Molepolole were not sold and they showed DK the door. He should sue the BDP for stopping him from going to University during those years when he was eligible.
Olebile Gaborone
Former assistant Minister of Local Government Lands and Housing was the President’s favourite against Elijah Katse who was believed to be the victor in the BDP primaries. Not only were Katse and company reprimanded, they had to apologise publicly and pledge to support Gaborone, which they did. The deep frustration that BDP members in Tlokweng had was unleashed on October 24th when they gave their vote to Same Bathobakae of the Umbrella for Democratic Change.
Gaborone is back and is now fighting poverty at the Office of the President. No valuable experience such as his should be thrown in the rubbish bin. NO!
Rose Seretse and the DCEC
Who could ever forget the attempt by Rose Seretse and the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crimes (DCEC) to stop newspapers from publishing a leaked document of an interview between DCEC and Isaac Kgosi. The Director of Intelligence and Security Services (DIS) boss was questioned for financial transactions suspected to be corrupt and unethical. The DCEC approached the High Court to stop the Sunday Standard from publishing, only for other newspapers to publish the same. Their defence was simple – they were not interdicted by any court!
Other players like BOFEPUSU also distributed the document, stating that they were not interdicted from publishing, or being in possession of such documents. Next time you want to interdict the media, the best thing to do is call a press conference and share information with journalists, not the damn High Court.