Why do I smell a rat

Correspondent | Monday August 15, 2016 14:37

I’m not even referring to the common, well-known amendments now in the public sphere such as those being contested by our trade union movement or political parties.

In particular my curiosity has been aroused by news items that indicated that President Ian Khama had directed that government policymakers should come up with a review of the powers of dikgosi, with a view to upgrading, or increasing their powers to be at par with ministerial powers, or permanent secretary’s powers.

I found it very strange that such pronouncements could be made at this hour of our democracy and no one in the NGO’s, including the media, seems to care about the repercussions of such likely amendments to the powers of dikgosi.

To me, maybe someone would say I’m being paranoid, but I think the timing of such amendments to the powers of dikgosi, coinciding with the time when current president, Khama prepares to exit the presidency, should arouse curiosity in every one of us, especially that he seems to be the one championing the changes, and especially because he is himself a kgosi, who has never hidden his next stop after completing his presidency, which is to go and reign at his Gammangwato throne.

Now is not this interesting that a man used to huge and far reaching political powers, first as commander of the army for over 20 years, as deputy and commander, then as vice presidential and president for a combined 18 years, would not be at ease settling for less powers as kgosi of Bangwato, hence the need for more powers as kgosi?

I smell a rat, that someone may be preparing himself for a reign of luxury of power, endless power by the way, as the ultimate monarch that exists side by side with the modern government.

We should all commoners condemn any manoeuvre by dikgosi, to increase their powers over us, even if they may come together and agree on this evil at ntlo ya dikgosi.

No kgosi in history can claim to have protected this land alone from foreign powers, it was the blood of the warriors that was shed.

What we need today is not more powers of dikgosi, it is actually more powers for the people, the ordinary people to control our development agenda.

We should never wish to see the powers of dikgosi return, for such will be more nepotism, more poverty for the non-royal members of the society, more segregation because of tribal groupings, more land for the royal blood, more natural resources for the royal blood, and basically more reversal of our gains as an independent nation. Bagaetsho independence also means independence from dikgosi’s shackles of poverty and tyranny, bogosi must fall!

 

Ke le Motswana wa sekei, VIVA,

Botswana, Viva Bot50!