I support the motion

There is a great deal of discontent in our Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) dominated parliament. The cup of discontent is overflowing; there is mutiny in the ranks. The Paulson Majaga motion calling for a referendum on the direct election of the President has sailed through against the express wishes of the executive.

It is one the opposition were just too happy to vote to pass. It validated their long held aversion to the current, sick dispensation where an overly powerful President is accountable to no one but himself. On the other hand, it is one the Cava faction would have been too happy to see dead. The Cava faction conceive the motion to be undermining the current president, which is nonsense. New Jerusalem are guilty of many things but differing with a head of state doesn’t amount to disrespect. In fact, it could well pass for credit to the incumbent that some semblance of freedom seems to have returned to the floor of Parliament. Some friends of mine say it’s a weakness on his part. I differ. 

There was a time in the not so distant past when the BDP would not have countenanced mutiny in whatever form. In keeping with centuries old BDP tradition, Majaga had no right to come this far. The BDP traditionally punishes every look that threatens the Presidency with insult. Well, things have fallen apart. Perhaps, they have fallen in place. It is open season. I am told that a section of BDP MP’s have gone either purposefully truant or outright rogue. They prefer to stay away from parliamentary proceedings; perhaps out of disillusionment, perhaps out of spite. They are not coming back anyway. Their hour on the stage is over. They have suffered the sword of Damocles.

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