We Are Against Giving Mogae Presents

| Monday February 11, 2008 00:00

The issuance of the statement was motivated by the Kgotla meeting called on January 28 2008 by Bakwena Tribal Authorities in which the tribe was asked to prepare for the said visit. The said preparation actually meant that the tribe should come up with ways in which it can raise funds to buy President Festus Mogae farewell gifts.

The BNFYL is reliably informed that headmen of different wards were asked to collect gifts (in money form, even though it wasn't intentionally made clear) from their constituents (not forcibly though). As a Movement whose duty is to protect the interests of the downtrodden, we would like to make it clear that we are against attempts by those who have benefited under Mogae's leadership to ask those who have not, to thank him for his 'good leadership'. We are not against the visit of the President, we expect him to come and bid his people goodbye. We expect him to tell us what he has achieved during his tenure as the President of this country but not to get presents from poor people.

During his tenure as leader of this country, he was earning a salary like any other worker, albeit higher than most. He did not pay water and electricity bills like most workers in this country. We paid for him (his taps never ran dry like in most villages in this country and he never experienced electricity black-outs). He did not buy food, he wasn't hit by high fuel prices like most of us and he never will because the state will continue to provide him with free transport until he departs this world!).

We sympathise with low wage earners who toil everyday trying to make ends meet while making company directors very rich in the process. We sympathise with teachers, nurses, low ranking police officers and soldiers and many more workers of this country who deserve better. On that note we request residents of Molepolole not to contribute a thebe to these self-serving initiatives by tribal authorities. We appreciate the fact that their (ba bogosi) real intention is to please their employers by these endeavorus. We have also learnt that government employees are also contributing or about to contribute to buy the so-called farewell presents and we request them not to fall victims to this scam. Their monies are needed somewhere where it can be better utilised.

We request the President to be exemplary by refusing to accept these 'gifts' failing which he will also be party to this thuggery against his people. What you have to do Sir is to ask your fellow countrymen to help pay for students who are now sitting at home with their unemployed parents as a result of your misguided education policy. Students in secondary schools in Molepolole whose parents did not manage to pay for their school fees were last week returned to their homes, a phenomenon the BNFYL totally condemns. While on the other hand some people are encouraging people to contribute to the 'President Gift Fund', we request every person in and outside Molepolole to consider helping out the poor kids who are now finding themselves at home return to the classrooms rather than contributing to an undeserving cause!

Tshabo K. Sedimo
BNFYL chairman