Stopping a cycle of cronyism and cadre deployment :: Mmegi Online

For 58 years, the levers of Botswana’s political power have been pulled and controlled by red democrats whose political affiliation opened doors laymen could only see in La La land. As the election sugar rush wears off and the sixth administration develops budding roots into the government enclave, will this epoch mark the end of unmerited ‘comrade’ appointments and scratch my back I scratch yours tender awards. Mmegi Staffer TIMOTHY LEWANIKA writes

For many eons, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) was a kitchen master that served a pot of tenders and government appointments to those loyal and faithful to its ideals and leaders. Shoeshine boys and girls benefited from a system of cronyism where those in power provided benefits and favours to close friends and political allies, often without regard for merit or qualifications.

At most times, the only qualification one needed was to be a self-declared bootlicker and it would be a given that they were going to bask in the warmth of favours from those at the echelons of power. But as the Buddhists say, no state of being is permanent.

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