However, the lopsided debate on Satanism seems to be unaware of this. Some have made the argument that the majority of Batswana are of the Christian persuasion. But even so, our basic law has not pronounced on religious identity, except in reference to proscribing discrimination on the basis of religion and creed. And until that has come to pass, we believe we are well advised to consider ours a secular state because that is what we are - presumably, officially, legally and mercifully. But in order to maintain this sobriety, it behoves each and every Motswana to be steadfast in defence of our constitution, regardless of religious persuasion. It is thus regrettable that this sanctity should now appear to be under threat from certain self-appointed and self-righteous religious gatekeepers in our midst. A few weeks ago, the head of the Directorate of Intelligence and Security, Isaac Kgosi, told a parliamentary select committee that our country was being ravaged by a scourge of Satanism. He told the rapt MPs that prominent and eminent members of our society were among the high priests of the scourge. Kgosi's 'testimony' raised the immediate question of when did Botswana's chief sleuth become a religious crusader? How is it business to check on the religious identities of Batswana? What apparatus did he use to determine the satanic nature of the liturgy of the eminent Batswana he referred to? What justifies his use of state funds snooping around citizens to determine their chosen manner of worship? Significantly, is it not possible that Kgosi, trained and adroit in methods of elusion, used tales of Satanism as a red herring to throw the probe away from the scent of misdeeds at DIS itself? Following these 'revelations,' there is renewed saturation media coverage of supposed nefarious conclaves and their Satanic exploits. We fear that this invokes McArthyism, that terrible period in the US when being communist was a criminal offence and a purge of suspected communists was carried out. Or when, closer to home, a cry for freedom was a subversive act punishable by detention without trial and torture in the dungeons of apartheid South Africa. We are a country of law and order in which offenders against the law are duly arraigned under a process that ensures that the accused fully understand what they are charged with and are considered innocent until proven guilty. We are safer and saner staying the course of this jurisprudence than making amorphous accusations of the type expected of unwitting victims of mass hysteria. Nonetheless, we would be failing in our duty if we did not put out the disclaimer that we are not holding brief for purveyors of misdeeds.
This is because we will stand firm any group of Batswana that organises against the safety and security of any one person or society. By all means, if such a conspiracy - occultist in nature or otherwise - is suspected, it must be thoroughly investigated to determine the sustainability of the charges. If the charges can stand, due process must take its course. But we must never forget that we are a secular state.
