The social values committee lacks credibility

Editor | Tuesday July 8, 2008 00:00

While it is no secret that the modern world provides challenges for the society at large issues of social values are complex and need the input of more people than just religious and traditional leaders.

But this is not the major problem with the initiative. The committee has questionable credibility. Firstly, it is made up, exclusively, of a Christian organisation in partnership with Ntlo Ya Dikgosi. We wonder if the highest office in the country overlooked the fact that Botswana is a secular state? In fact, it is questionable whether the BCC is a proper representative of Christian organisations let alone an engine for all faith based institutions.

To make matters worse, the BCC itself has credibility problems. BCC president, Reverend Mpho Moruakgomo, for instance, is a known Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) activist. He is an active member of the party and it would not be far-fetched to conclude that it is one of the reasons why BCC has been appointed to the committee.

The most important of religious organisations, the African Christian organisations, to which a lot of Batswana belong, are not included. This is a serious lapse in judgement. This country is made up of different faiths and it is irresponsible for the highest office in the country to assume that by roping in the BCC they have taken everyone on board. 

If the committee is expected to determine the role that can be played by traditional and other community leaders in instilling the social values, why not make it as inclusive as possible? It would make much more sense to include everyone as early as possible rather than have other groups integrate into a system already set for them by one faith-based group.

Government must be reminded that regardless of what religion those in the corridors of power adhere to, Botswana remains a secular state. It is, therefore, important to recognise this fundamental characteristic of this nation when those in leadership make decisions that will have a bearing on the Botswana society. A presidential committee is a major institution and it is for this reason that these principles should be applied on it. Otherwise, the Presidency risks the danger of being dismissed for favouring one group over another and for not taking everyone on board. The Presidency should not just be interested in being inclusive but should be seen to be making every effort to be so. The Social Committee remains compromised by the inequitable method it was formed from and for that it lacks credibility and legitimacy.

                                                          Today's Thought

Free press can, of course, be good or bad, but, most certainly without freedom, the press will never be anything but bad.
                       - Albert Camus (1913-1960) French novelist, essayist and dramatist