The publicity secretary for the Botswana Congress Party (BCP), Taolo Lucas, has described as "unacceptable" a news segment broadcast on Btv on Sunday night that showed primary school pupils likening President Ian Khama to God in a song. A pastor has reacted similarly, charactering the spectacle as "unfortunate" because worship was the exclusive preserve of God. Lucas said the incident was at once abuse of the pupils and the state media.
Btv news screened a segment in which pupils from Francistown's Our Lady of the Desert Primary School sang a popular Christian hymn whose lyrics say, "You are Alpha and Omega/We worship You, My Lord/ You are worthy to be praised." However, the pupils substituted "My Lord" with "H.E." in reference to President Khama. The Our Lady pupils, alongside others from Shadi Shadi and Kole primary schools, visited State House as part of a tour of Gaborone. Speaking to Mmegi yesterday, Lucas said it was sad that children were used to sing the praises of the President, adding that it was obvious that the pupils did not make the song up by themselves.
