The media is replete with reports on:
*Alleged interference and influence of De Beers on the political landscape in Botswana.
*Alleged abuse of power and governance trust by our leaders in their dealings with De Beers for personal and political gain at the expense of our democracy.
*Alleged attempts to interfere with the Botswana justice system by stopping the on going court case in which Louis Nchindo and company face criminal charges for alleged activities while employed by De Beers.
*Alleged abuse of proceeds from Botswana's God given diamond resource.
*Alleged confirmations by De Beers on the bailing out of Sir Ketumile Masire and of donations to the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) "over the years and most recently in the late 1990s as part of a regional study on democracy."
(Guardian, January 22, 2010 & January 29 2010, Sunday Standard, January 17-23, 2010, January 24 - 30 2010 & January 31 - February 6 2010).
Any patriot will agree that these media reports are not just cause of great consternation but also an embarrassment and assault to our democracy and governance structures and processes.
