Is Khama Obliged To Wed?

ISAAC PINIELO
Correspondent | Monday May 10, 2010 00:00

 

Perhaps the reason for talking about his marital status has been prompted by incessant pleas from the public and other senior citizens that the president should get married. 'Some of you are saying I keep delaying to get married. It means if I get married I'm going to encounter some problems since I'm still handaling other problems in the party,' he said to the amusement of the audience.

In the past, Khama has been quoted as saying that his reason for not getting married was that he feared it would fail.

In consideration of his reasons, one is bound to wonder if the president does not support the marriage institution. His marital status makes him the first president in this country a bachelor and it is also the first time that the country has been without a First Lady.

Constitutionally, it appears that there is no violation since the status is not a written constitutional provision. But from a social point of view, it is inarguable that it is quite anomalous for Botswana to be led by a bachelor president. Culturally, Khama is obliged to marry since he is the paramount chief of the Bangwato. Tradition dictates that the chief should produce heirs to take over from him.

Recently, a BDP veteran, Kebatlamang Morake was quoted by a local midweek publication as saying that he is concerned that the president is still single.

Khama came close to getting married a few years ago when he got engaged to a Gaborone-based dentist, Dr Nomsa Mbere. In fact, most of the marriage preparations were done and the only thing that remained was to set the wedding date.

But then everything came to a halt following the passing of Khama's mother, Lady Ruth Khama. It is not clear as to what happened after that, since everyone has remained mum over the issue.

Opinion is, however, divided on Khama's marital issue. Some people suggest that a leader and let alone a president is obliged to have a spouse, and others argue that this belief is an imposition of values on other people, and a violation of the freedom of choice.

Phase IV customary court president, Masego Masonya says marriage is a personal choice. 'If it's ok for the president to remain single, I don't see anything wrong with that,' he said.

He said the olden belief that a traditional leader should be forced to get married is no longer valid in modern times. 'Things have changed. We can no longer expect someone to get married just because they are leaders,' said Masonya.

Stanford Stanford, 33, who resides at Government Camp says there is nothing wrong in having a president who is not married. 'I don't think there is anything wrong. It is his choice,' he said.

Stanford, however, noted that an elder is expected to have a wife because if he is unmarried he would be regarded as a young man. He also said that marriage would give the president more respect as he would be alternatively be addressed by the name of his children, like former presidents Sir Ketumile Masire and Festus Mogae who were at times addressed as Rra-Gaone and Rra-Nametso respectively.

For Precious Moyo, 38, from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, the president should not be forced into tying the knot as that could lead to him having an unhappy marriage. 'It is better that he marries in his own time when he feels like doing so,' she said.

Another citizen, Kamogelo Lephoi of Bluetown location in Francistown said an unmarried president would lack the completeness that a spouse would provide. He said he would lack the feminine support and wisdom that a woman would provide.

'An adult needs a spouse and our president is no exception. Spouses play influential roles in the other spouse's disposition in both personal and official functions,' he said.

But president Khama is not the first president in Africa who is a bachelor. The president of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Joseph Kabila was not married until much later in his presidency. Even the former president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela was not married when he took over the reins following his divorce from Winnie Mandela. Mandela later married Graca Machel, the widow of the late president of Mozambique, Samora Machel.