KINGDOM-O-METRE

DUMI MMUALEFHE | Monday February 27, 2012 00:00

Controversial as it would turn out to be, I was gratified by the presence of Botsalo Ntuane at the celebrations. I would love to believe Ntuane was motivated by what he said motivated him. I hope he was not just being 'a politician.' We have witnessed through the years, and especially in the last weeks how a good number of politicians have shown no regard for honesty.

We have for instance heard politicians make public statements that they left party 'A' for this reason only to turn around and sing praises to the same. We have heard politicians who would even swear and demonstrate they can do anything to change the current regime as it is supposedly ruled by people whose character they described in words I have been raised never to pronounce, only to engage in political gymnastics and sing praises they can never sing to their maker!

I have been confused and need someone to help me here:  are politicians liars (I believe not all are) or is politics a lying game? I ask lest I blame people for playing the game according to the book! I challenge Ntuane to make Botswana proud, especially that there have been rumours that he is retracing his steps to the BDP.

I challenge him to be a beacon of hope and integrity; I challenge him to show this nation that indeed as Batswana we can eat together without selling our souls that indeed he still holds to the same principles that made him BMD.

Thanks D K Kwelagobe for what you said. As for you mogolo, I challenge you not pressure Ntuane into crossing back to the BDP so that we may see what mutual respect among politicians can do for this nation. I believe in tolerance.

May Ntuane's motive be nothing but that which would nurture this virtue. Attacked and maligned you are going to be, even from within your own BMD, but if you are a man of principle, you would do the most honourable thing, and that is, not to use the pressure from the opposition where you belong as an excuse to jump ship.

I challenge you to tolerate those in the opposition camp who may not see things the way you see them. Even more I beseech you to be tolerant, especially of those who show no tolerance towards you. You would be a virtuous person! Turn the other cheek.

I ask again, is politics a lying game or is politics a good game infested with lying people! I want to believe not all politicians are. However, until such a time when we would become a real democracy, our politics would remain a lying game.

Until such time when electorate's interests would take precedence over party caucus, our politics would remain a lying game. Remember how politicians solicit for votes? They promise they are going to represent us, to be our voices, but lo and behold! That ends with us casting our votes for them! What happens thereafter: party interests all the way.

After a colourful celebration I count on both the BDP and the opposition to take a leap of faith. Botswana needs a reformed political system. This challenge among the opposition is relevant, especially to those entrusted with drafting policies for Umbrella 2. We need the Legislature to be totally separated from the Executive. 

Parliamentarians can never be truthful to the electorate as long as they are to compete for cabinet posts. They can never stand for the will of the people when a bigger percentage of Parliament is the Executive. Besides, the current system compromises our ability to achieve more as a nation as choosing cabinet is not based on competencies. Imagine if the president was to choose cabinet from outside parliament! How much talent would he have at his disposal!

When politicians ask for our votes they promise us roads, schools, hospitals, stadia and all the goodies, did you know; your councillor or MP has very little if any influence at all in ensuring these developments come your way? Imagine if we were to have a constituency or district-based budget.

Imagine how meaningful the role of your MP would be if they could speak for, and be some kind of governors of their constituencies! Currently councilors are our only hands-on-politicians; these are the people who sponsor our democracy from their pockets.

They are the ones who know who is going to bed without food and who needs to be lifted up to go to hospital at night. These are the people we often castigate for non-performance, I ask you today; consider this: they sacrifice their family resources and time. I know this first hand because two of my brothers are councillors; one for BDP in Moshupa and the other for BMD in Molepolole.

Imagine if we were to fund political parties. We would be able to assess our candidates fairly. No candidate would be unfairly judged on account of not putting forth a colourful campaign; no party would be unable to reach voters due to lack of funds.

Only then would we have laws forbidding unfair electoral practices like voter prostitution where people are bought for votes. Only then would direct presidential elections make sense. The long and short of it is: there is need to level the political playing field.

The BDP I wish more years of growth is one that takes fair and just democratic practices seriously.

The opposition I prayer for ultimate take over is one that envisions an alternative political dispensation based on the justice of God! Oh, as for lying know that 'The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in men (and women) who are truthful' (Proverbs 12:22). Let's pray that the lie-demon be exorcised from our politics.