I would like to begin this instalment by offering a disclaimer. Those who follow my column would agree that I never use uncouth language. I think time for diplomacy has run out. We are entering a new era in which tough questions should be asked. In the process of seeking answers, obviously, some would feel offended. That should not be interpreted as an insult but a normal democratic process of seeking accountability. However, before I dwell on the subject matter for today, I thought it orderly to revisit concerns raised by Spencer Mogapi in relation to current BTV state of affairs.
In his column, the Watchdog, Spencer, makes a bold claim that BTV has tragically been allowed to slide into an embodiment of all that is wrong with our public service by those in charge of our republic (Sunday Standard 30/08/15). For a station that enjoyed huge goodwill at its inception, such euphoria has quickly dissipated and, overnight, replaced by a sense of hopelessness and failure among many citizens. The recent reality is that BTV is seen as a joke with fewer Batswana, especially those living in urban areas, having nothing to do with it. Its viewership has declined to all time low in towns across the nation. He got it right when he talked of lack of accountability as the key factor in the current state of affairs at the state broadcaster noting that, “…Instead of strengthening its professional ethos, the politicians at the government enclave have over the years sought to control and micro-manage the station. For their part, the executives met the politicians half way by voluntarily turning their backs on media ethics.” With accountability gone, confusion has institutionalised in the way we conduct public affairs in this republic, evidenced by unfolding developments at BTV and beyond.
But Spencer left a crucial point in his analysis of what has gone wrong at BTV, which the leadership of this nation seems to forget. It is part of our DNA. Batswana are a people with a strong sense of fairness. Yes, we are prepared to give you a chance to prove yourself until a certain point. We are a patient lot, but that can also evaporate easily. The BTV case is instructive in that regard. Once it was no longer seen as an objective, rational and merit-oriented organisation, Batswana resorted to who exactly they are: a fair-minded people who despise any form of injustice. This is a very important aspect of our culture that the current leadership fails to capture. They act as if we are fools. Unfortunately, we place consensus above everything else. We value accountability. And as indicated earlier, strong sense of fairness is the foundation on which public affairs are conducted.
Sadly, the BTV mess is a microcosm of the disarray facing this country when it comes to issues of governance. The public broadcaster epitomises everything that has gone wrong with our country. We are just in a state of confusion.
Coming back to the subject matter, I was shocked like any Motswana last week when we learnt about the suspension of four judges of the High Court. I thought we have entered a new era in the democratic development of this country. I think development is the wrong word here! We are now on our way towards uncertainty. This is a place where institutions do not matter in regulating conduct of engagement by the rulers and subjects. Seriously, how do we get the judiciary in a mess and expect normalcy to prevail? I tried in vain to get to the bottom of the latest episode but my legal friends were also in the dark. All they knew was that the President suspended those judges after their principal reported them to police for wrongful receipt of housing allowance. I pressed further to know whether they stole the money or they committed any act of criminality but my friends were of no help on the matter.
I could sense confusion amongst my friends. I was not surprised. This is the new Botswana where anything can pass ÔÇô and those taking such actions know very well that collectively we are likely not to show concern on the issue. But we are talking judiciary ÔÇô the last bastion of good governance, which has contributed immensely towards democratic development of our country. A largely internal matter has, sadly, been allowed to take a new life of its own. Listening to many expects on administrative processes they all agree on one thing: the Chief Justice could have dealt with this matter through internal organisational processes more so that it came to surface through an internal audit process. Why he opted for police intervention talks more about the confusion we currently find ourselves embroiled in.
I have talked in the past instalments on the dangers of collapsing institutions, which appears to be the in-thing under the current administration. The prospects of going that route are scary. The examples are wide and varied, for example, Libya under Colonel Gaddafi or Iraq under Saddam Hussein. In both countries “Strong Men” mentality emerged after they dismantled key institutions thereby rendering everything else useless. They came to dominate life in their respective nations with little counter-balancing effort from other arms of government. They had absolute authority over their countries’ political and judicial system. But once they departed the scene we know what happened; confusion took hold in those countries. There is now lawlessness. The centre cannot hold anymore. At best these are failed states, which cannot even provide basics for their citizens.
And the lack of water across many parts of southern Botswana makes one wonder if we are blindly on a march towards a failed state. And the attack on the judiciary makes me scared. Accountability has been thrown out of the window. Confusion remains the name of the game. All we are getting from Water Utilities (WUC), for example, are daily excuses pleading with Batswana “gore inela diatla metsing.” I am left wondering what to do to heed the call from them when there is not even a drop to clean my hands. Welcome confusion, goodbye Botswana!
