Venson-Moitoi must throw in the towel
Friday, October 07, 2016
Victory seems to elude Botswana by the day
The Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation, Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi is a big dreamer, and brave one at that, which she should be applauded for. She has attempted her luck at what many Batswana would not have thought possible – leading the African Union Commission at a time when their President has shown no interest in the affairs of the organisation. During his reign as the then Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation between 2009 and 2014, Phandu Skelemani used to refer to AU proceedings as chaos and a circus.
That was the time when the AU chairperson was none other than King of Kings, Brotherly Leader and Guide of the Revolution of Libya, Muammar Gaddafi, a long-time dictator who died in October 20, 2011.
That should concern every Motswana. The implications extend far beyond cattle and farmers. Botswana’s beef industry is a critical pillar of the economy, supporting thousands of households and sustaining businesses along the value chain.The loss of access to lucrative export markets has already demonstrated how quickly an animal-health crisis can become an economic crisis.This is, therefore, not the time for complacency, blame, or political...