Ian Khama�s Legacy � Judge for yourself (Part 2)
Michael Dingake | Tuesday May 30, 2017 16:36
6. Alcohol Levy was imposed by HE President Dr Ian Khama to curb excessive drinking which translated into drunken driving, road carnage and sexual promiscuity, resulting in HIV AIDS pandemic. The levy was ostensibly to cultivate national sobriety. Billions of pula have, and are being collected from the public through the levy, which keeps rising at the whim of the President; yet sobriety of Batswana is nowhere in evidence. Batswana travel across the borders to indulge in the merrymaking they were used to, prior to alcohol levy days. Proceeds from the levy are administered haphazardly without target whatsoever. No rehabilitation centres have emerged to cultivate sobriety; the alcohol industry has collapsed; unemployment keeps climbing; the amount of cash outflows from the economy is inestimable; we await, courtesy of the Finance Minister to learn, how much the alcohol levy has impacted on budget deficits, since it was imposed. An intriguing phenomenon has appeared in the horizon; Batswana, according to researchersm have been found to be the unhappiest people on the planet. Believe it or not, that’s the verdict of experts! Could there be a link between Batswana unhappiness and the capricious prohibition they endure, consigned to bed like small kids when they still wish to while away time with fellow revellers, due to the restricted liquor sales hours? Maybe, not basic; may it be ancillary?
7. Before 2009 the BDP was a monolithic political structure unacquainted with schisms which haunts rival opposition parties. The advent of Khama’s leadership brought about the first split within the BDP and gave birth to Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD). President Khama, as leader of the BDP attempted to impose his favoured candidates at the BDP 2009 elective congress and disaster struck. Obviously a sign of immaturity and/or reckless exercise of leadership. He wanted to make BDP members look like they had no minds of their own! If Khama doesn’t tolerate democracy in his own party, can he tolerate it outside, among rivals?
Leadership is the glue of disparate parts in human associations. The most fundamental of these gluey substance is, the ability to unite all the segments of virtually any entity: gang, harem, squad, company, political party or whatever multi-member body . One incapable of this capacity cannot claim leadership qualities. President Khama is devoid of leadership qualities of reconciling, harmonising and unifying . Not only will the BMD split remain his nadir in his leadership style and stint in the country and party, but a consistent landmark reflecting abject failure. Look how he engineered the Hons Maisi and Molefhi divide! For someone who was headhunted to reconcile factions that were tearing the BDP apart, he has done the diametrically opposite. Highlight of his legacy will certainly be: One who unwittingly became a Trojan horse in the BDP war against the opposition!
8. SADC Gender Protocol adopted by the regional body at its 2009 Summit, was signed a few weeks back. Botswana lags behind in empowering women. Her SADC partners, more committed to the gender equality theme, are way ahead. The Republic of SA, newest democracy in the SADC region, has already notched 45% achievement of women MPs. Other SADC members who signed the Protocol when it was adopted, aren’t far behind. Botswana still languishes below eight percent of women MPs. Khama’s administration’s excuse has been that the 2009 Protocol was prescriptive and set unachievable targets. Why didn’t the majority find it objectionable? Now she has signed because the Protocol has been reviewed and couched in more agreeable language! Interestingly, Botswana claims she was always committed to the Protocol; that’s why there’s been an explosion of women numbers in the public service! The ‘power,’ Batswana women enjoy in the administration is akin to that of messengers in the primordial gold mining scenario under white bosses: Tata lapha, beka lapha (Infantile patois, meaning take this from here and put it over there). Pause. No power there, except reflection of master and servant kinship. SADC 2009 Gender Protocol’s objective is to make women equal with men in decision-making! Not make a slight tweak in numbers of menial staff! Fine, now that she has signed, what next? If past experience is anything to go by, we are going to watch a repeat of the Declaration of Assets and Liabilities fiasco!
9. Freedom of the Press is tyrants’ biggest enemy. From Hitler’s Germany to Verwoerd Apartheid SA, tyrants’ trail is littered with charred libraries, banned literature, journalists marking time in prisons or lying dead in their graves. Botswana hasn’t reached that stage yet; it has been creeping with stealth towards there, nevertheless. Feted as ‘shining example of democracy,’ by now Botswana should be vigorously waving the Freedom of Information status flag atop its statutes, for all to behold and admire. Instead she has Media Practitioners Act which far from championing press freedom, threatens it. Journalists are harassed, private newspapers are skimped or completely denied revenue from government advertisements; besides, nowadays journalists frequently appear before courts for plying their trade. One local journalist is a refugee in SA, for publishing a ‘wrong’ article about the President. He may be enjoying the asylum granted, his editor back here is indicted for sedition in relation to the issue! Right from the beginning, Khama denounced friendship with the press.
“I don’t read newspapers!” He declared for all to hear. Khama doesn’t read newspapers, except ‘Daily News,’ government newspaper he edits, through his brainwashed functionaries! (Contd.)