Khama, Venson and BDP join facebook

CHANDAPIWA BAPUTAKI
Staff Writer | Tuesday June 22, 2010 00:00

On Sunday, the administrators of the page announced the presence of President Ian Khama and invited members to interact with him.

Responding to the members of the BDP page which was at 1,007 yesterday the president said that time and schedules allowing, he will spend an hour a week to interact with members on the BDP page.

'The administrators of this page want to set up a profile for me too. Do you think that would be welcome?' he asked, to which most of the respondents agreed. It is a welcome idea to have a separate profile page away from the party page.

Thuto De Ral, who seemed to have been enjoying a great time conversing with the president one on one commented that, 'To H.E. I would like to say we as democrats should take this party forward. Let's do away with factions. So far, so good, o kare re tla robalelwa ke ditlhokwa. The situation we are in now, calls for a new breed of leaders to emerge, leaders who will love this party...but try to guard against bomajapelaelo, people who will jump for positions regardless ya gore ba basha mo partying.

'There are young democrats who have been working so hard for this party, who knows tiro tsa party. A re tseyeng ka ha dilo di dirwang ka teng mo go bone...Long live Phuti, Long live H.E. Khama'.

The president responded: 'To your point on factions you are right. Factions have created undesirable outcomes in our party. It is my goal to bring unity to this party and to do this, I call on all democrats to play their part. Tolerance and teamwork will be required. Something I know we have at the BDP,' he said.

As it was father's day, Paulson Marshall, wished the president a happy father's day. 'Father' does not necessarily exist at conception level,' he said, to which Khama responded that he was humbled.

'Paulson, I am humbled. Thank you, though I admit that is something I have never been called before!' he said.  It was during this interaction that one student from one of the senior schools had the opportunity to report her teacher for having tribalist tendencies.  'I would like to ask H.E. what he thinks of my situation. My English teacher went on transfer, so there's a new one. He walked into class, told us who he is, then went on to say if you kill a person who happens to be a Mokalaka you're charged with poaching, but with an ordinary Motswana its murder.  I think H.E. should address the issue of tribalism if we are to speak of unity,' she said.  Khama responded that she should get in touch with the Minister of Education for the 'irresponsible statement to come from any teacher. Please be helpful by contacting the Minister of Education to report the matter. Please let me know on this page if any action has been taken.

'Let the minister know the name of the school and that of the teacher when you write to her,' he said, adding that 'on a personal note, I abhor tribalism and all that it stands for. This country has done well enough without wasting time on it. All our citizens have a role in the development of this country'.

When the student asked if she would be protected, the Education Minister, Pelonomi Venson, who is also on Facebook, responded that 'As the minister here I can guarantee that protection.

At the end of the day, student rights are no different from any other citizen's rights. As H.E. suggested, I will await your letter with the details so that if action is required it will be taken'.

When reached for comment yesterday, Moitoi said they received a few personal complaints on Sunday and they have advised them to lodge written formal complaints for follow-up. 

'We cannot take action on those complaints posted on the Facebook page but we advised them to make written letters for us to follow those with the appropriate departments,' she said.

 'In the future, the administrators of the page will announce when the president will be available once a week, schedule and time allowing, to interact with the members on the BDP page,' Venson Moitoi said.