Khama�s empathy is always misplaced

Mmegi Editor | Wednesday November 30, 2016 12:07

This is despite the obvious fact of adverse effects this liquidation will have across the economy. Various sectors of the economy are feeling the effect of the collapse of Selebi-Phikwe’s economic mainstay. Instead of sympathising with the people of this town and the surrounding villages, Khama continues with his obsession of serving soup and diphaphatha in various villages. We are not saying it is wrong for His Excellency (HE) to meet and greet citizens, especially the poor  in obscure areas of this country just like he recently did when he visited Old Naledi township after rain and floods had affected some residents. This is empathy that should be extended to other affected communities. For instance, Khama has never bothered to visit Matsiloje village. In the last decade or more the village and its surrounding areas have experienced the recurrence of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), which has often been attributed to illegal immigrants. Matsiloje is one of the villages that have suffered significantly by this scourge. 

It is believed that Zimbabwean illegal immigrants who cross into the country through ungazetted points near Matsiloje help the spread of FMD as animals gain free access into Botswana. FMD is not well controlled in Zimbabwe. The first FMD outbreak occurred in early 2002 while the second one took place in 2013 and then more cases were recorded. The 2013 outbreak was the most catastrophic as government, despite the disapproval of many farmers had to cull nearly 12,000 cattle and in the process had to compensate farmers. In addition, government culled a combined 16,000 goats and sheep in order to suppress the FMD pandemic.

The government spent more than P90 million in the latter exercise according to various media reports. The government also spent a significant amount of money to suppress the first outbreak though no animals were killed.  The prevalence of FMD in the area has not only driven farmers to lead pauper lives, it has also often affected operations at the Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) abattoir in Francistown.

During both outbreaks, the facility was banned from slaughtering beef for the lucrative European Union (EU) market.  But the President seems not to care and the area Member of Parliament is AWOL. We call upon HE not to be selective in his philantropic efforts, but  find a suitable time in his busy schedule to make time to visit Selebi-Phikwe and other areas reeling from the effects of the mines’ closures.

 

Today’s thought 

“Empathy is about standing in someone else’s shoes, feeling with his or her heart, seeing with his or her eyes. Not only is empathy hard to outsource and automate, but it makes the world a better place.” 

– Daniel H. Pink