I was shocked! I never thought after President Ian Khama contributed so immensely to Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi’s loss at the African Union elections, our lady would still have it within herself to behave so obsequiously. I listened to Mma Moitoi’s post-AU elections media briefings and she was disgustingly sycophantic towards President Khama. Some of us were genuine in our support towards Mma Moitoi’s endeavour to contest for the chairmanship of the AU Commission. We believed, as we still do, in her leadership acumen. We believed, given an opportunity, she would become a great administrator. However, even as we believed and had confidence in her capabilities, we were not delusional to think she would easily clinch the AU post. We knew what was at stake. We knew what was needed to garner those votes. As she confesses herself, the voting was not necessarily based on merit but rather, it was purely political. You needed good political connections to get the nod from African leaders. The voting was a preserve for African leaders. They caucused. They convinced and influenced each other on whom to vote for. Personally and professionally Mma Moitoi was best suited for the job. Unfortunately, she didn’t have the political back-up and this, more sadly, was what she needed the most. It was embarrassing to see Mma Moitoi looking lonely with a group of nobodies while the person who mattered the most, President Khama, chose to remain here at home and visit some obscure village to sit around the fire with old folks. Yes, President Khama sent Vice President Mokgweetsi Masisi to represent him but the truth is, until he takes over from Khama, Masisi does not wield as much influence as does the sitting president. We know how petty Africans can get and surely those African presidents must have felt belittled to learn that Khama felt his deputy was qualified enough to break bread with them. It must have infuriated African leaders to hear that Khama feels his domestic engagements are more important than AU meetings
It would have been easier for Khama to convince his counterparts to vote for Mma Moitoi than it was with Masisi. Mma Moitoi wants us to absolve President Khama from her misfortune. She is trying to defend Khama’s inherent disdain for African Union meetings. How sad! It is even more shameful to have Mma Moitoi appear to be endorsing the stupid school of thought that former President Mogae was wrong to spend much of his time selling Botswana to the outside world. Mma Moitoi says, and she appears to support it, Khama has elected to snub AU meetings so that he can spend much time with Batswana. She says Rre Mogae was termed the ‘absent president’ because at most times he was busy outside the country. I would have expected Mma Moitoi to be at the forefront in enlightening Batswana on the core duties of a president. The president’s main duty is to do exactly what Rre Mogae was doing. The President is supposed to be the country’s chief spokesperson. The president is supposed to be the face and voice of the country and as such he is supposed to spend more time representing us to the outside world and occasionally go around the country interacting with the nation. The people who are supposed to interact more with citizens are members of parliament and cabinet ministers. Khama is part of both cabinet and parliament and as such ministers and members of parliament are best suited to represent him while he represents the nation outside the country. Le gone I don’t understand why Mma Moitoi wants us to think Khama is a man who listens and abides by the wishes of this nation. She wants us to believe Khama doesn’t travel outside the country because Batswana do not want an ‘absent’ president. Give us a break Mma V! There are so many things that Batswana would want Khama to do or not do but he continues to disregard their wishes. We need to condemn Khama’s bad behaviour that cost this nation so many opportunities. We lost the opportunity to have our own Mma Moitoi usurping the AU top post simply because our chief campaigner plays truant. We have many other victims of Khama’s phobia for international meetings. Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba lost at the United Nations because her president is not known by anyone there.
Botswana benefited immensely from Rre Mogae’s international meetings where he chewed the fat with important and influential people. Mogae travelled outside and brought investors here. Khama on the other hand stays home and chases investors back to their countries. Just recently we were embarrassed when African leaders shunned our independence celebrations only to flock Lesotho the following weekend. You cannot blame other Presidents for not taking keen interest in our country. Why should they bother show solidarity and comradeship with us when our president sneers at them? It is such a shame to hear Mma Moitoi tell us that while Khama has opted to delegate international assignments to Masisi, he however undertakes to attend international meetings on conservation, because conservation issues are dear to his heart. Khama as president must pursue national agenda and not his hobbies. He cannot and should not be allowed to be selective in his presidential duties. He is an employee and should adhere to his job profile which includes representing our country at international summits. There is no need for Mma Moitoi to suck up to President Khama. He was the weakest link in her campaign.
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