Public servants are busy preparing for the country's birthday. It is on the Independence Day that we shouldn't only celebrate but introspect on the country's successes, opportunities and challenges. The speeches by the President and his ministers are usually self-congratulatory; they fully utilize the opportunity to remind Batswana and all and sundry about "where we come from". Emphasis is seldom put on where we are going as a nation.
Notwithstanding the country's problems at independence, for instance poverty, unemployment, lack of access to education, health and services such as water, electricity and others, the country emerged from this disadvantaged position to become an upper-middle income country by world standards. The economic indicators such as GDP and per capita income are good. But who gives a damn about some indicators when there are high numbers of poverty and unemployment and underemployment and when the gap between the rich and the poor is so wide? Why should our young people celebrate simply because they had almost free education and access to public health, that there are roads and there are post offices? These are basic minimums in socio-economic development not worth celebrating? Exactly what do these leaders think was their role as government? Why do they think and behave like they've done everybody a huge favour worth reminding people about?
