Opinions

We should pray for Khama’s successor, only God can help

It is perhaps a sign of the changing times that even some of the party faithful have now started to talk of a life after Khama. Reluctantly questions are being asked as to who is likely to fill the big man’s shoes. This unusual eagerness to engage with a topic which, until recently, was out of bounds is most likely a result of recent interviews the President gave wherein he said he did not have...

LETLHAKENG BY-ELECTION AND THE ROAD TO 2014... ...the opposition must learn tricks of the trade.

A lot has been said about Letlhakeng West Parliamentary by-election much of which focusing on the lamentations of the opposition, especially the umbrella partners. The gist of the mourning is that the BDP has cheated more than was expected. This essay shares similar sentiments and proffers a way forward for the opposition. To start with, readers are reminded that the BDP has a history of waking up...

Clarity on government communication channels would avoid unnecessary tensions

For the past two weeks, public discussion discourses have been abuzz with a statement attributed to President Ian Khama that civil servants will be allowed to dabble in business. It is not the intension of this commentary to make an opinion on whether that is good or bad. Rather, we only confine ourselves to the manner the communication has been made, more specifically the confusion that has resulted...

‘From a Shining Star to a Dark State’

Botswana used to be known as a shining star on a couple of areas of her existence. At the time, some people doubted the sustainability of the glow while a lot, including the world, believed in the future of this state as a success. Credit now goes to those who had doubt on the sustainability of the glow. We intend to invest effort and resources in developing the energy sector. Our people, the...

Our leaders must be bonkers!

As a nation we really need to get worried. The rate at which our leaders continue to behave like escapees from Sbrana Psychiatric Hospital must get us all worried. It would seem our leaders have been hit by a bout of some contagious bovine mentality. In fact, even cows don’t behave so abnormally. You just have to listen to what our leaders say and look at what they do and you will get all goose-bumped....

Looming drought could prove the worst in years

Although the year has just begun, early signs are that we are headed for a devastating and lengthy drought season. Owing to bad rains, across the country crop yields have proved terribly low. In other areas nothing has been harvested. Attempts by government to help kick-start the agricultural sector are proving much more difficult than was expected. All signs are that other than disappointing crop...

Sell your cattle now and beat drought blues

Batswana should brace themselves for another drought year after the other one last year. But this year it looks to be even more severe. The signs are quite evident but we are only in April. For the first time in history, Kolobeng stream that runs through Manyana, Mmankgodi and Kumakwane, which have provided a lifeline for the people of the mentioned villages and their livestock, is already dry. This...

Are we facing a problem of books at tertiary institutions?

I don’t like strikes. They are generally disruptive and mostly they resolve little and destroy much. However, the Limkokwing University of Creative Technology strike surrounding the school bookshop is interesting. The students at this institution decried the Mickey-mouse bookshop at their institution which was supposed to service their complex academic demands but had repeatedly failed dismally. As...

Legitimacy, voice and Fairness: a Challenge to Public Services

One of the concepts driving modern governments’ activities is the practice and adherence to the principles of good governance. Earlier this year I briefly discussed two of the principles of good governance been accountability and transparency. This week I wish to look at four other principles under two main basic themes of legitimacy and voice which will embrace the principles of participation and...

Margaret Thatcher - an enemy of the working class

When the death of former British Prime Minster Margaret Thatcher was announced something quite extraordinary and unusual took place in that country. Spontaneous celebrations of her demise by socialists, communists trade unionists, miners, ‘occupiers’ and an assortment of leftists swept across the length and breath of that country leaving in their wake a trail of ruined streets, smashed windows and...

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