As is the norm, I went to the bundus over the weekend to bury an unknown family friend. Serowe was the place where I found myself in a company of few recognisable faces. The place was uncharacteristically cold, but, although the occasion was a sombre one, people could still find space and time to engage on pertinent issues of greater implication to their lives and beyond. I enjoyed conversations from the older generations, reminiscing about the good old days.
They talked of how Serowe, the centre of Bagwato administration for the better part of our recent memories, used to be the heartbeat of Bechuanaland. It was not only the capital of Bangwato, but it also had the ability to influence other places afar within the protectorate. The famous saga that nearly divided the Bangwato was discussed in hashed tones, demonstrating the influence of Serowe over us. I heard one old man talking of how they moved, together with the then Ngwato regent, Tshekedi Khama, to Pilikwe after differences over Seretse’s marriage to a white woman. Coming from the south, I could not immediately tell how ingrained such an incident was to the people of Serowe, with disastrous outcome of dividing the tribe. It was indeed a defining moment for many within the village, as it was to others in far lands. I finally picked from others that Tshekedi was a visionary. He came well before his time, but some of his ideas remained true and valuable to date. They did not share nothing for me to understand where they were coming from or what they were really on about. It was one of those instances where you find yourself amongst a company of people you had very few in common. Consequently, I concentrated on the unforgiving weather that consumed Serowe.
While taking a toll from Mother Nature, a young chap approached me. Soon we were discussing matters that had nothing in common with where we were. He wanted to know my position on the Sebina saga. But why would he want a southerner to provide a view on such a matter closer to them? I thought he should be the one leading the debate. But I was wrong. He wanted a “world view” on such an epic story. I did my best, noting that the incident was a microcosm of the moral degeneration that has come to characterise modern day Botswana. Here is a young girl, helpless and vulnerable, who finds herself struggling for survival in the middle of this world and the next. Given her precarious financial background, the scales were certainly tilted in favour of the next world, and to avoid death she gives in to the sexual demands of this horrendous man. Before checking the kid’s Omang card, he has slept with her leading to pregnancy. What follows is a shocking tale of a nation without any care to provide ethical leadership.
When the story broke on social media and other platforms there was a general uproar by Batswana. They could not tolerate such an act, especially undertaken by a leading member of the community. The man at the centre of this debacle happens to be a councillor under the BDP and was purported to be in a habit of behaving badly. A serial offender on many fronts, we are told, but because of his political connections and financial muscle, he has managed to evade the long arm of the law. Dilo tsa tlalanyana! But like the infamous cat, the councillor would run short of lives. This time around he was caught red handed. He did confess to impregnating the school going girl. If the purported facebook conversation was anything to go by, there was also an accomplice in this matter, who happens to be a minister serving under the ruling party. At worst the girl was to disappear. She somehow survived to see the light of day, and this is how the nation came to know about this scandal.
The BDP chose to keep mum when the story began to circulate. Days later, when they tried to engage, it was clear – this matter was not going to be allowed to take a life of its own. The BDP PR machinery went into full force seeking to sell a particular narrative to the unsuspecting public. My favourite MP from Mahalapye East, Mma Tshireletso went public and condemned the councillor’s acts. But she had a shocker in store for many Batswana. She wanted the matter not to be politicised. Come on Mma T, the main actors in this harrowing tale are politicians, not only that but politicians from the ruling party. Her plea felt squarely on the ears of those in charge of the republic. The BDP took an awkward stance, opting to treat this matter as another of those that came to pass. After all Batswana easily forget. The BDP’s Women League met and shared their views with the nation, repeating what the Minister of Education, Mma Dow had earlier suggested that the Sebina issue was not about the councillor but a national matter that involved all men. Generalisation became the cliff to hide behind and it proved not a surprise last week Friday when the President of the Nation finally found something to say ÔÇô three weeks after the issue surfaced. He did not disappoint. Parroting what previous BDP speakers have said the President condemned the incident but, yet again, reminded all Batswana men that they were also engaging in similar acts. No action or sanction against the perpetrator was mention! I was not surprised.
What surprised me was that the President said something, belated as it was. There is something that the Khama administration would be remembered for: absolving themselves from anything. It’s an administration that never takes accountability or action on matters that borders on life and death for this nation. When Batswana began to complain about the emerging scourge being corruption, we were told that conflict of interest affected all of us because somehow we are all related! Consequently, minister’s wives and siblings started doing business with ministries and departments under their watch. There are many other illustration bothering on failure by those in charge of our republic to distinguish between right and wrong. Ministers retain their positions even when they have serious charges to answer before courts of law. I knew we were doomed as a people. In the meantime the ruling party found nothing wrong with such unspeakable developments.
On moral level specifically, the BDP has decided that it’s none of their business. Church elders and chiefs, it would appear, would have to provide the moral compass needed to guide this nation to greatness. But in the absence of sound political leadership, I can tell you we are a nation awaiting disaster of biblical proportion to visit us. A visionary and ethical leadership with ability to tell right from wrong remains the only hope for this nation going into the future, but the BDP of today fails to lead on that front.
*Dr Molefhe teaches Public Administration at the University of Botswana
