In their strategic efforts to court and capture the politically massive “youth vote,” the former super giant Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) which has been in power since 1966 is finding itself in a state of panic and thus trying hard by way of brandishing all manner of enticements and inducements. Prominent among these is the prospect of becoming a Cabinet Minister, Deputy Minister, holding some office in the party, serving in one of the various committees tsa Dom- Krag and or being appeased with an ambassadorial post after being walloped through the ballot, therefore, becoming “Somebody” in an instant.
It is of no surprise!!!!!
Time and again when an opportunity arises the Vice President of the Republic of Botswana, Hon Mokgweetsi Masisi does not shy away from reminding us that he rose to where he is by bootlicking ÔÇô “ BOLOPE”. In his own words Masisi states that “Ke ngwana wa lelope, ke ngwana wa ngwana wa lelope, e bile ke ja boswa.” He keeps bragging about it and recently advised the BDP council aspirant in the upcoming Boikago-Madiba council by-election to follow suit.
We all know the election results.
One is compelled to ask “What message is he really trying to put across?” Can he really be looked up to as a father figure ready to provide sound political leadership once he assumes Presidency? He presents himself as an over excited recycled teenager, an over-grown babe just discovering finer things in life fascinated by hip-hop and gangterism.
Botswana does not require such kind of leaders, going forward. It has to go through a serious transitional face of reconstruction and reconciliation. Yes, reconciliation and accepting boldly that the mistakes committed in the past are not repeated for we are not a pseudo monarch.
Who will forget that BDP Number one Mampara who went to the District Commissioner’s Office and registered for nominations as specially elected councilor for Gaborone. ‘He even photocopied his application forms and gave certified copies to his influential colleagues in the party and cried foul after he had failed to make it in the list after allegedly sacrificing so much for the BDP’. “Claiming to be some SUPERMAN who worked better than other deserving candidates believing he could easily graduate from being a mere lorry driver into a political celebrity on account of being a praise poet and repository of flattery”. (See Sunday Standard 15-21 November 2009, Thabo Lucas Seleke).
Time proved me wrong as what was to emerge thereafter was dramatic, un-imaginable is the right word where some benefited handsomely from sycophancy by being praise poets and apple polishers. We are now in an era where intellectualism is superseded by feckless opportunism, silliness and greed. An era of ‘FOOLITICS’ filtered with reckless, arrogant and overly pompous and irritating new comers ÔÇô Bo ÔÇô Mafikizolo.
Lately BDP has been on a crusade to recruit new members to its forte, mostly youths. Some when they speak you would even wish you were deaf ÔÇô because they suffer from verbal diarrhoea fascinated by using uncouth language. The behaviour displayed by some of these new excited recruits compels one to even think that when they are recruited they are told “as for us, unlike our rivals, when you join us you will rise to the top quickly.” This seems to be the message of the ruling party to Botswana’s materially-anxious youth, a generation justifiably desperate for an opportunity to break through the despair of a jobless economy and an uncertain future. And this is one promise the party has easily and speedily redeemed more especially with their latest recruit being the young celebrated economic female genius. As if she is the first young female genius to be recruited into BDP when there have been many before her. What is ironic is that this is from a party that has no shortage of well qualified and better prepared men and women.
When Uncle Eric commented in Parliament that now the leader of opposition in Parliament has found his match, referring to the BDP Specially elected female economist genius. I couldn’t help but wonder as to whether his idea was more of an acknowledgement that some of the BDP members in Parliament were mere Dodos who could not match that of the Harvard Law graduate. It only occurred to me that Uncle Eric is a beneficiary of the same scheme if not scam where he was brought in after suffering from a humiliating defeat by his King, Kgosi Kgolo Lotlamoreeng in the Good Hope bye elections.
It must be noted dear reader that this cheapening of government did not begin with the current President. It began even during Sir Seretse Khama’s era where he brought in Jonnie Masire after he was severely walloped by his King Kgosi Kgolo Bathoeng Gaseitsiwe. The only difference is that the dynamics have changed. For instance, some of the current crop of Ministers and Deputy Ministers who are brought into high office through special dispensation (Specially Elected MPs) are often rusted and tired show-offs. As for the young Ministers and Deputy Ministers they are often a bunch of ill-prepared, often ill-mannered, Ministers, deputy Ministers whose energy and zeal far exceeds their wisdom and preparation. Our current President has merely ensured that the mediocrity prevails by appointing some half baked, clueless Ministers and deputy Ministers who are not a perfect fit and more often just don’t get it. They are only good as show offs at funerals and weddings where they always expect some special treat and sometimes asking for some freebies including sexual favours. Bo ÔÇô Mafikiozolo.
It’s a shame, that we have this state of affairs that trades high public office and the conduct of the public’s business–for short-term partisan advantage. More ominously, it signals to the beneficiaries that the opportunity to become a BDP card caring member, Minister, Deputy Minister and or serving in some BDP Committee is an opportunity for self-enrichment, a lucrative payback for loyal party service, not an opportunity to serve country. This is where the politics of putting party over country has brought us.
There are ways to give opportunity to dedicated party youth or even new recruits without compromising, trivializing, or sacrificing the quality of government. In the end, the best hope and assurance our government can give the youth of is to devise and implement policies and programs to build a strong productive economy, educational system, and an entrepreneurial sector that can create jobs and an a ladder of opportunity for all not just for loyal party youth and new entrants, drama Queens. Doling out Specially elected positions to those who lost national elections as well as to a few freshly- or recently-minted university-educated youth is not a solution to the growing problem of youth unemployment, nor does it signal a sincere or serious commitment to creating meaningful opportunity and a secure future for the youth. What it does signal, at best, is short-term political opportunism and a cynical trivialization of government.
One can only hope that now that Jakes has come he will not shy away from contesting for the BDP Chairmanship. He seems to have the oomph, and must therefore be encouraged to go for it and help rescue the party from sycophants and rusted non value adding males and females who made it through special dispensation. He must not settle for less.
The trial and tested should not be given an opportunity to stand for the BDP political office as they will continue to embarrass their party. They are only good to be kept as heritage material.
*Thabo Lucas Seleke writes from Seleme Farm, Rasesa
