Former President Masire must open up to Batswana, at the bare minimum

*THABO MODISE | Thursday February 25, 2010 00:00

It does not require much intelligence to figure out that a corrupt relationship existed between the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) and De Beers. It is also not far-fetched that there are other companies in the same relationship, if not worse, with the BDP as an organisation and its leaders in their personal capacities. I am also still to be convinced that only a few individuals in the BDP leadership knew of such underhand dealings. My take is that the corruption has been institutionalised, otherwise, high-ranking as well as ordinary members should have smelled a rat.

It is time former president Masire tells Batswana exactly what happened, where, how and by whom. He owes it to this country to reveal all those involved in this scandal that the civil society has been crying foul over, only to be dismissed as power-hungry, opportunistic, jealous and unpatriotic. Many people, both within and outside the BDP have been frustrated in their efforts to bring to surface the deals that Botswana is party to, and in some cases careers immediately cut short. Some have been relegated to poverty and sabotage in their quest to make a living after termination of employment from the civil service, to the extent that the only way to survive and get on track, is to apologise and demonstrate loyalty to the BDP. This is a sad state of affairs for a country so regarded as the beacon of hope in Africa.  The movie Blood Diamond uses the term TIG- meaning 'This is Africa' to refer to the hopeless state that is Africa.

Just this Sunday in one Botswana Television programme, there was a debate on the purposefulness of the budget speech as presented by the minister of Finance and Development Planning, Kenneth Mathambo, to parliament. Representatives from political parties, BDP, BNF, BCP and a university lecturer were present. Of key note was the fact that BDP was represented by none other than the controversial Boyce Sebetela - whose private company was cited as a beneficiary to tenders in a ministry where he was the head. This is still the order of the day in Botswana.

Sebetlela is now an executive manager at Debswana, having tendered a resignation in parliament a few years ago. One now begins to wonder why was he representing BDP at this debate, especially when there is an issue over Debswana' s parent company, DeBeers, with the government of Botswana and the BDP. Is the BDP so arrogant as to say to Batswana 'we don't care what you think, we do as we please'. One would suppose BDP would tread carefully and not worsen the integrity question hanging on its head. Debswana is definitely not the government nor is it the BDP. Debswana and the BDP still have perception issues to deal with and mend, and having a Debswana executive manager represent the BDP, surely says a lot. We know the BDP shamelessly appoints its cronies to government and parastatal entities on political affiliations, and they do not care. Who will question such appointment? The media cannot do it alone!

The silence that the Botswana government has chosen over its dealings with DeBeers can only lead us to believe that they do not care, are arrogant and they will continue to rule this country at their will. Statements such as 'we are not a unity government' when called upon to account surely tells Batswana that there is nothing they can do to the rulers as evidenced by the government's free- will rule. They will continue to make decisions for you! They will continue to use funds as they wish! They will continue to keep you in the periphery! They will exploit you and enrich themselves, and tell you there is no money! They will nominate their families and friends as specially elected councillor and pay them millions! They will make you pay more and more taxes, and not reward you adequately! They will not provide services for which you pay! They will benefit from government tenders! They will not provide jobs for graduates! They will seek bribes for scholarships and bursaries! They will make you feel grateful for the meagre wages and slavery that is Ipelegeng. They will make you play constituency soccer because you do not have a job, and you will routinely vote for them!

Have they run out of ideas?  Yes, definitely the rat race, like the rest of Africa, has dawned upon us!'Cry, the Beloved Country' I can feel it!

*The author uses a pseudo-name, and is a concerned citizen of no political orientation, whatsoever.