For most of his career, starting at Botswana Defence Force, it has been a subject of rumour and suspicion that President Ian Khama’s family has used influence to amass wealth.
We want to make it clear upfront that while these suspicions have never been fully answered to by the Khama family, at least for purposes of this commentary, it is not the family that we have in our sights, but the other hangers-on that are a part of the presidential entourage ÔÇô in both his official as well as private capacities.
A question in many people’s minds, which unfortunately few are able to publicly raise, is whether or not it is just a matter of coincidence that almost President Ian Khama’s entire inner circle has become extraordinarily rich in the last four years that Khama has been President of Botswana?
To try to answer this question, one cannot help but dwell a lot on increasing cronyism that has been creeping in.
It is, however, important to note that not all that is done in his name, President Khama is aware of.
Some of the things are done in his name, without even his faintest knowledge.
The problem though is that because he has this unwavering bond with the culprits, even when he gets to find their abominable acts done in his name, the most he can do is to turn a blind eye rather than crack the whip.
That is unfortunate.
In just over four years in office, an amazing number of people have benefitted just by way of their connection to state power. The amount of wealth amassed by this group can only grow as the state privatizes some of its assets and also as a culture of impunity gets more entrenched, more engendered and more institutionalized as Khama’s presidency drags on.
No wonder there is a groundswell of perception that President Khama has a soft spot for corruption, especially when members of his inner circle are beneficiaries.
Use of foreknowledge and inside information continues to cast doubts on government’s intentions to fight corruption.
While we are of the opinion that we cannot legislate for everything, we are also of the opinion that this government’s track record, especially on corruption leaves a lot to be desired.
Reports indicate that some of the people closest to President Ian Khama ÔÇô in both the private and government institutions – have amassed wealth in dubious circumstances clearly out of influence peddling and throwing their weight around by way of using their proximity to the President.
Well aware of immunity they stand to gain by associating themselves with President Khama’s underlings, we now have some of the country’s most accomplished business people linking up with Khama’s people ÔÇô either by way of giving them shares, outsourcing some aspects of their supply chains or banding up together to form companies.
Also aware of their growing power and influence this clique has grown more aggressive, more abrasive and altogether shameless in their pursuit of their wicked deals.
We have seen this kind of cronyism happen in other countries.
In an economy that is state dominated such as ours, it is very easy for people with political connections to use those as junction as they climb the wealth ladder not just to state contracts but also to private sector jobs, especially where state patronage is always a card to riches.
Clearly, the business people, who, as history shows, are not always entirely clean in their dealings, are paying protection fees so that they can be catapulted above the tentacles of law just by their association with the president’s inner circle.
While this cabal has spread fear and resentment, there is absolutely no resistance against this cabal.
There is growing evidence that even the quasi autonomous state authorities are cowing before this cabal out of fear of reprisal should they stand up to it.
We want to emphasise the fact that for most of the time President Khama is not aware of the extent to which his name is being abused.
But unless the president takes steps to act, we have no choice but to start believing that he may also be an accomplice in the whole racket.
