Batswana were wondering and perhaps even worrying about what the President wanted to reveal. What national issue was worrying the President? They wondered. What could it be? Unemployment? Poverty? Or could it be the extra-judicial killings? After all, only a national issue could inspire the President to address the nation. But when the time of the big announcement came, the President was not on air. Instead, the Director of Broadcasting Services, Mogomotsi Kaboeamodimo was. Keaboeamodimo indicated that he would read a statement from the Office of the President on the conflicts engulfing the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP)! Here was a civil servant reading a piece of presentation, which for all intents and purposes was addressed to the BDP, its followers and those who have a stake in its business. The Motswaledi fiasco never is first and foremost an internal BDP matter, which should not be shoved down the throats of the nation even through a statement from the President read by a civil servant who is supposedly non-partisan. The use of government media on Friday by Khama to address an BDP internal matter should put to rest the debate that the opposition is not right to query such abuse. Khama and Communications, Science and Technology Minister, Pelonomi-Venon Moitoi, should understand that from now on, all the accusations that the opposition expressed regarding a lack of equitable coverage are true. The opposition is entitled to complain and even contest the fairness of the forthcoming elections. This is an election year and for all intents and purposes, Khama's address only dealt with the likely fall-out his party may face from the Motswaledi fiasco - an issue that is partisan and internal to BDP. We wonder whether Khama ever thinks about these issues. The address on Friday had nothing to do with the national agenda no matter how serious the problem seems to those within BDP. BDP is not the nation. Its interests are not necessarily one with those of the nation. For example, the nation needs fair elections, while the BDP needs a successful election campaign. The Friday address was to further the latter not the former. Friday should be seen as a sad day and those responsible should be brought to book. Khama should answer for this as well as Venson-Moitoi
Today's Thought
