On 24th October 2014 Batswana go to the polls presumably to choose their elected representatives. The stage is set and every political formation fancies its chances. Like a woman trapped in fake pregnancy, even those whose losses are guaranteed are nevertheless hopeful.
Many party activists especially those who are expecting some form of rewards if things turn out in their parties’ favour are damn nervous. Yet, in spite of the election being hotly contested and in spite of all of us hoping to savour the victorious moment after vote counting, many opposition party faithfuls are palpably distressed by prospects of a BDP win ÔÇô prospects that are material. Opposition party cadres, including incorrigible stubborn optimists may be wearing brave faces and sounding very confident that victory is certain but still they concede that the BDP has an edge and is destined to emerge victorious.
The outcomes of past elections in Botswana have always been predictable mainly due to the dominance of the ruling BDP and the organizational weaknesses of the opposition. Whereas it may not be as obvious as it was the case with past elections, the 2014 elections are no exception. Thus, whereas elections are the linchpin of our democratic dispensation, they equally have become more about legitimizing a dictatorship than facilitating the expression of public opinion and availing voters an opportunity to have a government of their choice.
Although President Khama has long resigned from the army, he still handles himself more as a self-anointed Field Marshal than a civilian head of state. He may not wear his military garb but his language and style of decision making personifies an iron-fisted repressive leader who is never reluctant to go an extra mile to assume a posture of a proud modern day absolute ruler. His failure to rehabilitate; his propensity to walk over his people including institutions of the state; his popularity especially among the underclass as well as his readiness to evoke dreaded constitutional clauses giving the state president sweeping powers makes him a virtually untouchable and undisputed General in command.
Other contestants merely try their luck and in the process serve to legitimize the election process and by extension endorse this diabolic regime. In President Khama, we have an insecure, self-conceited, self-obsessed leader so desperate to hang on to power that he is prepared to literally destroy Botswana if he does not get what he want. It is generally accepted that as the BDP’s Chief Campaigner, President Khama’s portraits have to tower above those of his party’s candidates as though they (candidates) are weaklings whose defeat is certain and conclusive. While this arrangement is meant to maximize President Khama’s popularity to ensure BDP’s victory, the long-term effect is just too ghastly to contemplate, specifically that President Khama purposefully uses the campaigns to amplify and consolidate his strongman persona. President Khama has used the campaigns to endear himself to the people so much that none of his followers would accept any criticism of their hero, however constructive.
As a result, his followers find his iron-fisted, uncompromising, wicked, authoritarian approach very appealing and most welcome which is why they will feverishly cheer him as he mock and humiliate their parents and extended family members. For half a decade now, Botswana has been inundated by President khama’s concerns about indiscipline across age groups, concerns that have been used to justify punitive laws and regulations that exhibits all key features of totalitarian regime. His ability to appeal to nationalist instincts as when he appeals for higher levels of patriotism has worked wonders for his image especially by presenting him as the only genuine patriot and trusted citizen.
Given his overwhelming popularity and a lack of a serious collective challenge from the opposition, a foregone conclusion would be that President Khama will head back to the State House unless voters decide not to use their votes to give a dictatorship a popular mandate and herein is what genuine patriotic Batswana should do to Botswana from virtual disintegration. First and foremost, as voters we have to acknowledge that the principles and ideals of the founders of this unique country are worth defending and renewing. We ought to acknowledge that the present government has cast a dark shadow on our future and that of generations to come.
While what is happening mirrors concerted efforts by elites in the BDP to promote polyarchy (democracy based on contest of power by the elites) which represents direct attack on our country’s founding values, President Khama has come to cap off the task with unparalleled determination. Every day he seems to discover many more vengeful constitutional provisions that allow him to take his people head with brazen recklessness. His powers, based on the philosophy of military discipline or subordination, cannot be questioned allowing him to willy-nilly attack and shame individuals and institutions of the state he is mandated to shield. Going forward, our collective vision is to build a Botswana society where freedom, opportunity and prosperity flourish and stand to benefit citizens irrespective of their standing in society or political affiliation. Such a vision should be founded on higher level principles of patriotism that essentially requires all of us to commit ourselves to taking action to save our country.
In the context of contemporary Botswana, patriotism which derives much of its tenets from nationalism, demand that voters should fully acknowledge that President Khama is literally ruining our country and this is a general consensus; that the BDP may have done reasonably well since independence but the consensus is that the current BDP regime has failed and its leader seems to be a man on his own clandestine mission; that Botswana is at crossroad, one leading to nearby hell and the other leading to salvation; that the 2014 general election represents the battle for the future of our country and it is now or never; that we must, as a matter of utmost imperative, change the direction of our country before it is too late; that all of us must dedicate ourselves to putting Botswana firmly back on track especially in terms of safeguarding our civil liberties and human rights; that we must stop being spectators or idiotic noisy yes-men who seemingly are proud of our poverty and lack of dignity; that we must stop voting to merely have our votes counted but that we must consciously make our votes count; and that we must vote wisely and avoid voting with our stomachs.
Anything else is the equivalence of legitimizing, endorsing, sponsoring and validating a dictatorship and by extension authorizing them to insult, harass and torture you at will. Nevertheless, the problem is that in our country a majority of the people are senseless fanatical cheerleaders who are allergic to rationalism and so often act excitedly and irrationally. The rest who have a judicious sense of life and respect themselves, mostly the middle class are in the minority and often proceed with caution and thoughtfulness. Their cautious approach means that they are often beaten to the finish line by the many idiots who waste no time to cast their votes without much thought. After all, idiots are never undecided and do not care about civil liberties, dignity and prosperity. God bless our nation!
