Balikani's resignation puts Moupo on the spot

Editor | Friday November 20, 2009 00:00

Some might say Balikani is a coward but this is missing the point. Only those without a proper understanding of what leadership entails can support that argument. A general whose judgment causes loss has to reconsider his role as a leader. Only a leadership steeped in unaccountability could fail to recognise the invalidity of its own existence after self-inflicted disaster. A good leader knows when to call it quits, because ultimately the movement is bigger than the narrow interests of the individual or even his or her inner group. A smart leader recognises these simple facts.

For a political party, the leader's primary responsibility is to increase its popularity and electoral standing. A political party should be active in the public arena. An opposition party should be seen to be on the ball on every issue relevant to Batswana. The BPP has not met these standards.  Balikani has recognised this in general terms. His stepping down will assist the movement to find another member who might move it to the next level. It is only fair that when Balikani has done all he can to improve the BPP, he should leave so that others can have an opportunity to lead the party.

The man has set a very good example for our political leadership. In the history of this country, many political leaders have treated their parties as personal fiefdoms to be dominated willy-nilly. Most leaders do not have the sense to know when they are past their sell-by date. The Botswana National Front (BNF) president Otsweletse Moupo is only one in a long line of leaders who refuse to quit after failing their parties. The BNF faces extinction under Moupo. Yet he continues to point fingers. He chooses to blame the dismal performance of his party, its battered public image and the rock bottom morale in its ranks on everyone except himself.

Of course leaders such as Moupo are often masters of obfuscation. He wants to wait until July for the party to decide his fate in a congress. The fact that he does not recognise that he is a liability to the BNF says a lot about the type of leader and or party member he is. He would rather be deposed than consciously  make a decision to step aside. We dread to think what type of president Moupo would be if the BNF takes power with him at the helm. By resigning, Balikani unwittingly exposed the kind of leadership this country has. Kudos to Balikani for marking himself out as a different leader.

                                              Today's Thought

                                 These opposition alliances divided us