Muzila Steals The Show From Mogae

| Monday February 11, 2008 00:00

This became evident from the start when the Mass choir, composed of civil servants, started singing songs full of praise for the DC.

These songs were viewed as patronising especially to Muzila's alleged political rivals like Member of Parliament (MP) for Francistown West Tshelang Masisi and nominated councillor Peter Ngoma. Masisi's supporters in Francistown West have been accusing Muzila of secretly campaigning in the constituency. They continued the accusation last Friday after it was announced that Women Affairs Day would be hosted at Monarch for the first time in history. Monarch is one of the constituencies in Francistown West.

Towards the end of the programme, director of ceremonies Kgosi Paul Motshwane squeezed Muzila in the programme to announce her message to the Francistown community. Muzila took the opportunity to announce that like Mogae, she would be retiring from office on March 31. Muzila told the poorly attended farewell address by the outgoing president that she would be leaving the civil service because of old age.

'I have served the civil service for 37 years. Civil service is very enjoyable. I'm going to miss you,' she said. After this announcement some section of councillors murmured some disquiet that she intends to invade Masisi's constituency. She cleared the air that she would be running her private school Tabitha Training Centre, named after her.

Meanwhile, President Mogae told the Francistown residents that although some successes were recorded during his tenure, one of the failures is unemployment. He said there were government programmes towards tackling this problem. Another challenge he mentioned was the high crime rate in the country. 'Government alone cannot fight crime,' Mogae said.

Commenting on the electoral crisis in Kenya, Mogae said what is happening in the East African country cannot happen here. 'Somebody recently wrote in Sunday Standard that crisis gripping Kenya could happen in Botswana. I totally disagree with that writer. In Botswana we use common sense.' On a lighter note he urged his listeners 'to catch fish in our potholes infested roads'.

After the Francistown farewell Mogae flew to Nswazwi to bid Bakalanga ba kaNswazwi farewell. This trip was just organised over lunch at the Civic Centre that was hosted by mayor Honest Buti Billy. At Nswazwi local MP Ambrose Masalila, who was in the president's entourage, told the Nswazwis that Mogae's visit was not on the agenda but planned over lunch. 'The president found it proper to take this opportunity to meet Bakalanga ba kaNswazwi who recently came from Zimbabwe and bid them farewell,' said Masalila.

For his part, President Mogae said he had wished to visit Bakalanga ba kaNswazwi upon their return but due to his busy schedule he could not.

He thanked the Nswazwis for having arrived with torrential rains. Mogae admitted that his Vice President, Ian Khama was better than him since he once visited the Bakalanga ba kaNswazwi. He also thanked the residents for having welcomed their relatives from Zimbabwe. 'I came here to thank you for that,' he said.

Bakalanga ba kaNswazwi had the opportunity to shake hands with the president. One resident quipped that Bakalanga ba kaNswazwi were very fortunate to shake hands with Mogae because they had stayed in Zimbabwe for many years but had never had the opportunity to shake hands with Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.