In the immediate post-colonial period of the 1970s, and even the '80s, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was located at the Office of the President. Foreign policy was always seen as an extension of the president's vision, and even 'personal touch'. The Minister did little else but act as a go-between the president and other world leaders. This had its own benefits. After all, we did not have a big budget to accommodate a multitude of ministries. Perhaps in the logic of the founders, foreign affairs had to take a back seat as government gave priority to the building of schools, hospitals and physical infrastructure. Perhaps it was a question of control in those volatile times of apartheid and the cold war when the president could not afford to have a hands-off approach to international relations. However, that was then, and while it might have made sense to conduct the foreign affairs by presidential control. Now, we are starting to see the consequences of that. As a result, when the foreign affairs ministry was created, the individual who took the position made foreign policy his own interpretation. Moutlakgola Nwako the first Minister in this portfolio had a somewhat independent mind and applied it to help guide our dealings with other countries during the presidency of Seretse Khama. We were lucky to have foreign ministers who had the skill to manoeuvre during those tumultuous years. Ministers such as Archibald Mogwe, Gaositwe Chiepe and Mompati Merafhe had to implement their own interpretations of what Botswana's interests were on the world stage without any written framework within which to work. This worked for a while because these individuals were also talented in diplomacy. Botswana is a small country and it cannot afford to shoot from the hip on the world stage, risking to destroy the goodwill of major partners. This is not to say we cannot have a radically different position to other nations on major issues, but we have to communicate this position in a way that is understood and appreciated. While we believe that Phandu Skelemani's open mindedness is a breath of fresh air in a ministry, which has been known for avoiding to answer the hard questions, we think he needs some brushing up on diplomatic communication. Skelemani cannot win Botswana friends when he is constantly sounding confrontational and even disrespectful in his language. For example, we are yet to hear Skelemani argue soberly on the pros and cons of the business of the African Union. He is forever attacking the institution without giving us a single argument on why the AU exists or should not exist as an institution. Surely, minister, there must be a valid reason why this AU thing exists and why this country continues to be its member. We reserve the right to differ with our fellow African countries and any other, but they surely must get some sort of respect while we are at it. Skelemani should be advised that being articulate is not synonymous with being undiplomatic. He may have been a hero when he openly criticised the calamitous presidency of Robert Mugabe, but even then we had our own reservations. Skelemani needs to understand the damage that his sporadic outbursts may have on the long-term image of this country. While we appreciate that our foreign policy has been nothing but the personal whims of both the president and the minister, we still want to caution them against compromising the interests of this country. This country will survive each one of us, including the honourable minister.
Today's thought
