Masisi's maiden anti-climax speech

Mmegi Editor | Friday April 6, 2018 11:02

His ascension brought about renewed hope for many citizens of this country who have faced life’s struggles such as unemployment, low wages, poverty, crime, HIV and AIDS, alcohol and drug abuse, and other socially related ills. Many if not all, awaited his inauguration speech with bated breath, anxious to know what their incoming President has in store for them that could be different from what his immediate predecessor had given them.

However, when it was time for Masisi to lay bare his road map, many were left wondering whether he will remain in the shadow of former president, Ian Khama.

His speech was lukewarm, filled with repeated old fairy tales that were never put into action. It was an anticlimax. With such hope and expectation, his speech was a disappointment to a young person who has been roaming the streets jobless over the last 10 years, yet armed with his/her degree that at best is gathering dust somewhere in his/her closet. It was a speech that we all thought we had heard before.

It was the same old song filled with ‘sweet nothings’, already sung by Khama during his State of the Nation Addresses (SONA) that featured Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Kenneth Matambo, which would shortly be followed by another collaboration on the budget speech.

Masisi’s speech did not ignite renewed intention to fight corruption, improve the living standards of the people and improve the public service among others. It was frankly disappointing.

There was no statement on corruption and how he intends to fight it. By just saying, “We remain committed to fighting corruption, in order to safeguard the hopes and dreams of all Batswana for current and future generations”, simply sounds like more of the same thing, which is not saying anything and is no longer enough for the economically anguished Batswana.

Talking about the declaration of assets law without a law on freedom of information is also not good enough; same as talking of the involvement of indigenous people in doing business without a law on citizen economic empowerment being a total joke.

For a maiden speech, it lacked ambition and vision, as there were no cutting edge pronouncements. It may be too early to judge, but based on that speech alone, our expectations and those of many other Batswana look doomed.

It was a speech expected to be loaded with big fresh ideas. However, it was a huge letdown and did not point to where the President was planning to take the country in the next five years.  Maybe the speech could have been titled #Remonohela, a common parlance amongst local Facebookers.

 

Today’s thought

“My new Cabinet and I, which I will soon put together will work very hard for and with you for a better Botswana. I will do my utmost to continually grow confidence in and of governance through a combination of new legislation, ethical codes and demonstrable and efficacious behaviours. To this end, expect specific legislation on declaration of assets and liabilities soon.” 

 – President Mokgweetsi Masisi