Thursday, November 7, 2024

Current water and power cuts are symptoms of our corrupt system!

In my last instalment, I made a promise to desist from dwelling on negative issues, which have come to characterise modern day Botswana. I took this well-defined position on a realisation that focusing more on negatives was never going to help the situation that has come to define the lived experience of many of our people. That pronouncement was also self serving. It was intended to improve my health ÔÇô emotionally and otherwise, which has, sadly, taken a turn for the worst lately. Yes, thinking about the current development trajectory of this country one is left wondering if posterity will find anything to sustain them. Indeed, that despicable reality is best captured by the former BDP Secretary Genral, Mpho Balopi, when he proclaimed “it’s our time to eat.”

 

Although my intentions were well meant, I am afraid it is proving difficult for me to stick to my words. Walking the talk, undoubtedly, is a big challenge. I have since reneged on my promise! Obviously, there are many reasons for my sudden change of heart. But the principal motivation has been personal: patriotic. As a person who puts Botswana first, I find it selfish to keep quite given the current mess we have to endure on our daily lives. In this instalment, therefore, I pay particular focus on the cancer that is bringing this country to its knees: corruption. Let me state from the onset that for far too long our country has lived under the impression that everything was fine, especially in relation to white collar graft. We have on many occasions, for example, ranked the least corrupt country in the continent. Yes, I mean the African continent, which has diverse countries such as Somalia, Gambia and South Sudan. I nearly forgot Djibouti where the long serving president is reportedly on the brink on amending the constitution so that he can stand for another election. This time the strong man is going for the fourth time! Welcome to Africa where Botswana is rightly presented as an angel of some sorts.

 

The past couple of days have just been a nightmare for majority of residents in Gaborone and beyond. A combination of lack of portable water and electricity has come to dominate the way we conduct life in our country. I cannot remember any time in our short history as a middle income country when I lost hope in my motherland. This is just a crisis! In some areas residents have to go consecutive days without running water. The situation is not only confined to our houses. The workplaces are turning out to be places of torture. You cannot even visit bathrooms. As for electricity the less I say the better.

 

I find it hard to say almost nothing about the predicament that has befell my nation in relation to power supply. Yes, we have never been self-sufficient in terms of electricity generation, but things have literally meant a country that has to celebrate 50 years following its independence next year is likely to do so under a cloud of darkness. This is not acceptable if we were to regards ourselves as a good standing member of the international community. We have always prided ourselves as a progressive people who have achieved a lot in the post-independence period. If I recall well, during the 1990s we were the only African country mentioned on almost the same levels with Eastern Tigers. That was then.

 

The new Botswana is a place in crisis, ably captured by the British High Commissioner who noted that “the problem with Botswana is not lack of water or electricity. It is more to do with corruption.” If it was not because of his trade, the High Commissioner would have just been blunt: the current political leadership has failed Batswana. He would have not been off the mark! Although numerous commentators are able to define the root cause of this nation’s predicament, our leaders are not prepared to act. It has now become customary, for instance, that a sitting minister or MP can continue with his job despite serious allegations or charges related to corrupt engagements. This is sad. It is partly an explanation why the public has lost confidence on our principals. Instead taking strong stand against corruption our leaders would rather engage on inconsequential activities to pass time. What a sad development for our country. And the rot does not only end with our ministers or MPs. As indicated above the former secretary general of the ruling party was able to get away without any consequences for publicly declaring “time to eat.” This should be allowed.

 

We should as a people not forget that corruption has denied many citizens an opportunity to be whoever they want to be. The money that line pockets of such greedy individuals is a direct denial of funds to others that could have paid for their education. It could have also been money to build a clinic somewhere in the bundus to save precious lives. Corruption has meant a delay in many ongoing major projects. For instance, we don’t have water while big dams have been constructed over the past few years in other parts of the country. And, importantly as a result of corruption, the pipelines meant to transport water from those dams were not constructed simultaneously with those dams. I used to think such were classic stories from West Africa! Indeed, times are changing.

 

It’s sad because Batswana have always been a cautious people. But things have taken a decidedly different turn. I could not believe it when a friend of mine informed me that to supplement short power supply we have since sought help from Zimbabwe. Are we not becoming another failed state? How can we rely on country that is on a sick bed? This says a lot about what we have lately become as a nation. To avoid awaiting catastrophe we should, as a collective, say no to institutionalization of corruption. 

 

*Dr Molefhe teaches Public Administration at the University of Botswana

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