Why - asks Paul Rantao

Tiro Sebina | Friday August 20, 2010 00:00

 

The politically robust opinion pieces attest to Rantao's proficiency and verve as an investigative journalist who relished playing the role of critical witness to Botswana's imperfect past and present. The articles are living examples of Rantao's mental energy and prowess. The articles show that Rantao was a politico-intellectual commitment to bold truth-telling. There is ample vim and vigour in each of the articles in this booklet. His provocative and relentless questioning reveals the antinomies of post-independence Botswana.

The articles highlight the importance of asking questions that promote transparency and invigorate democracy. Rantao's interventions cast him as a highly motivated leftist analysis of Botswana's political economy. He aims to bring attention to and restore to memory all those issues that tend to be overlooked. He chose to represent the position of the social sections that have been overlooked and marginalised. He offered unblinking critique of Botswana's political leadership that is bent on pursuing neo-colonial path of development to the detriment of the country's future.

The collection of critical pieces opens with a piece outlining the main features of Botswana's hobbled and lop-sided democracy. Rantao reveals the role of opportunistic elements who serve the interest of international monopoly capital thus crippling economic growth and creating a great deal of misery for majority of the country's citizens. The article shows how the ruling party binds unions and prevents them from free and open bargaining. The article is illustrated with statistical evidence that suggests the ill-advised economic policies of the party in government.

In the second instalment, Rantao provides explanatory proof of the dwindling support base of the Botswana Democratic Party. He points out that the BDP's electoral victory in the first elections was mainly based on the cult status of its founder, Sir Seretse Khama. He also reveals that the ruling party solicited rural support by means of 'information distortion and mass deception.'

Rantao also takes issue with the intoxicating power of presidency and likens Botswana's situation to other African countries that have been destroyed by tin-pot dictators. He also highlights issues such as electoral fraud and the unfairness of the political game.

Rantao's articles also address issues of neo-colonial character of Botswana's cultural and linguistic policies.  Some instalments cast a wider view on the regional issues, such as the BDP's attitude towards the national liberation movements such as the ANC, SWAPO and MPLA. Rantao's articles also broach the sour relations between the BDP government and the private press. Rantao does not mince his words when tackling the epidemic of corruption.

 He presents a scandal sheet that includes the stinking late 1980s BHC mess, the unforgettable Kgabo land corruption controversy, IPM book disgrace and the mysterious death of a serving chief executive of the scandal-ridden BHC.  Rantao also takes time to castigate the madness of privatisation.

The collection ends with a humorous political prayer featuring Moswaarula Mokadiatholo in deep meditation. The prayer protests against electoral fraud. This political treat is a must read for people interested in the evolution of Botswana's questionable democracy and the skewed economic set-up. Students interested in studying Botswana's burgeoning media will benefit a great deal from some of the articles in this collection by one of Botswana's most colourful journalists.Book Review

Title:  Why?Author: Paul Rantao