For a man who came in promising so much, it must be tragic that halfway into his constitutional tenure, Ian Khama’s presidency is still to show its true texture.
A failure to achieve the very objectives that the President had set for himself cannot be missed, not even by his legion of cheerleaders.
Under normal circumstances a cabinet reshuffle would suffice in restoring faith. But these are hardly normal times. We are living in extraordinary times requiring extraordinary interventions.
Though much derided for most part of his presidency, especially following his decision to devalue the currency, former president Festus Mogae could not fairly have been faulted for lacking a vision.
The Botswana of today is bereft of the aura of visionary leadership that has been so much a culture of the country’s past. I cannot remember a moment in our history when as a country and people we had to run without a clear-cut national agenda as is the case today. While we may have at all times differed on the modalities for achieving such an agenda, there always was a clear overall unity of purpose in emphasizing the importance of achieving such agendas. Tragically, that cannot be said about Botswana today.
One looks around in vain to be able to identify just what is the country’s national agenda today. Some say President Khama’s zeal is to defeat poverty the same way that Mogae had wanted to defeat HIV/AIDS.
That may very well be. But in the absence of a deliberate government monitored targets, it’s difficult to see how poverty could be eradicated by resorting to use of handouts.
A few weeks before he became President, I wrote elsewhere that Khama had the twin potential to become the greatest but also the worst president Botswana has ever had.
He could be the best because there was so much goodwill he enjoyed across the spectrum. Everybody wanted to give him not just the benefit of doubt but also a free rein to experiment with all he wanted.
Ominously I also worried that the immense public expectation could easily degenerate into a disaster if things went pear-shaped, especially if result took too long to show on the ground.
There are signs that things are not going according to plan.
Were it not for the President’s astoundingly high personal popular approval the public would already be up in arms poking holes on his broader national strategy to change the country.
Khama’s personal popularity, not to mention the name recognition by far eclipsed that of all his predecessors, including his legendary father. Such public appeal remains the most potent shield against what has otherwise been a grossly lackluster performance.
It is worth emphasising that people who have traditionally disliked Khama’s party have been charitable and generous enough to detach him from the party’s bad ways. This is because there is a feeling he is not a politician in the traditional mould. But this generosity will not last for long especially if promises do not turn into tangible deliverables.
One area where Khama has not disappointed, it has to be pointed out, is in his engagement and connection with the masses.
But having said that is the Botswana of today any better than the one he found when he became President?
I do not think so.
The walkabouts, we have been able to see over the last four years do not translate into jobs. The handshakes we have learnt the hardest way do not transform into improved living standards. 
Authoritarian strain, coupled with whatever amount of ‘Ds” we have painfully grown to accept does not always culminate in enhanced service delivery.
The nation’s education system has collapsed ÔÇô literally. And the effects will be felt for generations to come.
We are still to complete a national stadium that was meant to host teams for a World Cup tournament that happened in 2010. The Sir Seretse Khama International Airport is now two years behind schedule, not to mention hundreds of millions of Pula in cost overruns.
Botswana Meat Commission, once the jewel in the country’s agricultural crown is today on a deathbed. Debswana, traditionally a flagship of Botswana’s economic miracle is struggling to maintain its relevance. I would not be surprised if De Beers were to altogether take over this one time doyen of Botswana’ national pride.┬á
All these are unsightly symptoms of a nation in decline. And as history will show, in its dealings with De Beers, Botswana government has not always been completely honest with its people.
At individual levels despondency has set in. I cannot recall a time when our people have been such an unhappy lot.
They show all the signs of a people demoralized and enfeebled. An explanation for the lack of public anticipation is not far from hand. It can all be traced to a lack of passion and imagination on the part of the leadership. Whatever hope there was when President ascended has dissipated. It has been replaced instead by despair, and gloom among the masses.
