Khama lambasts Africa�s strongmen
Kesone Nkaelang | Wednesday January 31, 2018 14:59
Although he did not mention the dictators by name, it was clear that Khama was firing a veiled attack at the President of Democratic of Congo (DRC) Joseph Kabila and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni
The presidential election in DRC had been postponed until the end of 2017 and cannot take place until April 2019, an election official in the DRC said in December.
According to the country’s constitution, the elections were supposed to be held in 2016.
The announcement immediately sparked strong condemnation by the Congolese opposition.
President Kabila had made a deal with opposition parties in December to hold the election before the end of 2017.
Khama said Kabila had brokered a deal with the opposition, which was midwifed by the country’s bishops for the elections to be held in 2017 but Kabila clandestinely extended his term in office.
Khama said it boggles the mind that the DRC’s Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) had five years to prepare for holding the elections but is now saying that it is still not ready to conduct a free and credible election until 2019.
He also berated Museveni, 73, for his unbridled bid to extend his stay in power contrary to the constitution of Uganda.
The Ugandan constitution currently set an age limit for candidates at 75.
A Museveni allied legislator introduced the bill to remove the presidential age limit last month, according to media reports.
Khama, who was clearly in his element, said African despots are fond of using any trick in the book to unconstitutionally extend their stay in power.
He said it is foolhardy for the despots to think that they alone have the monopoly and wisdom of ruling their countries forever.
He added that democracy encapsulates observing the country’s constitution and rule of law.
Khama said as he will be handing the baton to his successor at the expiry of his term on April 1, he does not have a problem with that because he respects the constitution and knows that he cannot rule forever.
He said the country is blessed with a lot of people who can lead it contrary to what is happening in some African countries.
Conversely, Khama stated that the quality of live of people in African countries ruled by dictators is poor although they think that their rule is a god given gift that they cannot pass to anyone.
Khama also thanked former High Court Judge Mpaphi Phumaphi for dutifully fulfilling his role during his days in the judiciary and for his stellar role as the chairperson of the SADC Commission of Enquiry into the Lesotho crisis.
Phumaphi had earlier spoken on behalf of Francistown elders.
He joked that as Khama is being showered with cattle throughout the country in his farewell tours, he should take good care of the cattle in order to supply the Botswana Meat Commission (BMC), which is currently experiencing the problem of enough supply of cattle.
Phumaphi praised Khama for upholding the rule of law and the constitution.
Phumaphi said he was merely echoing the sentiments raised by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Francistown East Buti Billy.
The retired judge added that countries that do not observe the rule of law are bound to fail and collapse.