Is our government increasingly being run by decrees?

EDITORIAL | Thursday July 24, 2008 00:00

The latest announcement of the 70 percent increase duty on alcoholic beverages has taken by many by surprise, especially that there has been uproar over opening hours of liquor outlets. Liquor traders took the matter to the courts and the state has appealed.  The court ruling is being awaited. 

It remains doubtful whether the stakeholders in the liquor trade were ever consulted on the latest dramatic duty hike. Such arbitrariness is surely sending mixed signals not only to investors in the liquor sector but also other sectors. It is apparent that when the Kgalagadi Breweries Ltd (KBL), and its partners - SABMiller, pumped investment into their venture, little did they anticipate that the Botswana government will in the near future embark on measures aimed at undermining that investment.

Their confidence in Botswana's investment climate then was not misplaced. Botswana was known for its predictability and has been held up and promoted as such. In instances of changes, all stakeholders were consulted. This was guaranteed by our time-tested principle of Therisanyo.

It is noteworthy that SABMiller, is the world's largest brewer. Other investors must be wondering - if it can happen to a giant like SABMiller, how about us?

It is not only SABMiller which will be the loser here.Many Batswana have invested in the liquor industry knowing fully well that this is a legitimate business. It only took a change of a president, who the country has not asked for in any case, to change the trading environment.

President Khama is not alone in his abhorrence of liquor, many in this country do not like the irresponsible way in which some have turned themselves into alcoholics,the resultant drunken driving,divorces, child neglect and many other ills that are caused by irresponsible drinking. Even with these hard facts, President Khama does not have the right to behave as if this country is a religious state or a monarchy where he issue decrees as he likes.

Whether he is the grandson of Khama, whose abhorrence of liquor is legendary, he should at least respect the constitution that he swore to. This is a secular state where consultation and accommodation of each other views is the foundation of our democracy.
Khama should live up to his promise that he joined politics to defend democracy. We are not too convinced that he is a democrat. Other than the few populist stunts that he made to dupe the gullible masses we see no democrat but a dictator worse than Mugabe emerging. We can only hope that we are wrong.

The question that is on every investor's mind is, which sector is next to be short-charged by another pronouncement? The liquor, mobile phone, and media have been dealt with.  Who is next? 

                                            Today's Thought

First they came for the communists, but I was not a communist so I did not speak out. Then they came for the socialists and the trade unionists, but I was not one of them, so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Jews, but I was not Jewish so I did not speak out. And when they came for me, there was no one left to speak out for me.

                                           - Martin Niemoeller