Many Zimbabweans have been driven by hunger and starvation from their beloved homeland, courtesy of a political pervert who has been in office since 1980. They have watched hopelessly and helplessly as their beloved country was ruined to an unbearable state, both economically and politically.
As a result of a series of disastrous episodes in Zimbabwe, the poor people (including the middle class, one of the most well trained in the whole of the African continent) had to flee their country in search of food and hope for new beginnings. They had had enough of corruption, self serving and poor policies and the repressive governance of President Robert Mugabe. In the process, some had to flee their beloved homeland to unknown destinies.
However, not all of them made it as some of them were swallowed by crocodile infested waters of the Zimbabwean rivers, whilst others could not make it through the jungle as they became delicacy of wild animals. It is indeed a sorrowful and unbearable situation, but they had to do it. They just had to flee home from authoritarianism and dictatorship of the Mugabe regime in-search of greener pastures. Such is the rot of politics and its end results. I always look closely at the Zimbabwean situation and cry out loud for my beloved country, Botswana. That God Forbid, – Botswana should not experience similar turmoil and should be spared from breeding and producing politically perverted leaders now and in the future. That Botswana will not produce leaders with megalomaniac, dictatorial and authoritarian tendencies, not to mention greed. Some case studies on African political leadership have demonstrated how the continent has transformed itself as a breeding ground for political perverts and dictators. So pervasive is the situation that it has almost become impossible for any country in the continent to be exemplary in terms of good governance and the rule of law.
It has become difficult if not almost impossible for any African country to claim immunity from such malpractices. In fact it can happen to any country, for dictators are made and not born. If recent studies and arguments presented by different scholars, political and social commentators are anything to go by, then we should be alarmed and have reason to worry about the regressive state of Botswana’s political and economic landscape. We should be worried that there is absolutely nothing so special about Botswana and that it can have similar experiences like those of Malawi, Zaire (DRC) and Zimbabwe to name but a few. That its citizens can face similar experiences like their Zimbabwean counterparts and can one day find themselves being forced to flee from home in search of greener pastures.
The situation becomes even scarier when there is mention of a Civil War by desperate leaders. Botswana must avoid at all costs incidences of holocaust let alone insurgency and or counter insurgency. I have seen Terry George’s movie ‘Hotel Rwanda’ and I would not want to see Botswana ever plummeting into such a sorry state. You can deny it, you can hate me for saying it, and you can throw tantrums. I do not give a hoot.
I am ready to die in support my stance and submission. If you find it a bitter pill to swallow, it is not my deliberate intention to get you in that unfortunate state, but because I write with no intention to please anyone, you the reader is at liberty to agree or disagree with me. I am saying this pretty aware of the crucifixion that I will be subjected to, especially emanating from that notorious hooligan, Yes, that ‘Mampara’ who is always on every radio station exposing his idiocy as well as members of the ‘paranoid fan club’, backed and supported by the tenderpreneurs.
Irrespective of its excitement, attention seeking and public show-offs on regional politics, especially its position on Zimbabwe, Botswana should be fully aware that its controversial stance on Zimbabwe has a potential to be viewed with great suspicion. Botswana as one of the most outspoken critics of abuses by Mugabe government should not be perceived to have ulterior motives.
Clearly, the gravest abuse emanates when such a position is allowed to degenerate at personal level by high ranking minister who openly and deliberately make remarks that are careless and insensitive. Such reckless utterances can be argued to have xenophobic and tribalistic connotations. I am saying this against the background of the remarks that were allegedly made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon Phandu Chaha Skelemani at a BDP ‘star rally’ in Tsamaya.
The Guardian Newspaper of the 23rd July 2010 gave an account of how a super charged Phandu Chaha Skelemani without mentioning Moyo’s name but by inference said the MP should catch the next bus and cross to Zimbabwe where he could do as he pleased. As if to suggest there is disorder in Zimbabwe.
A further controversial episode on Guma Moyo citizenship is what Mmegi newspaper of the 4th April 2008 reported. It is stated in the paper that ‘that the last time the name Guma Moyo was mentioned in public was when the then Vice President Ian Khama now President made a joke about sending him back to Zimbabwe, which he, Ian Khama, said was Moyo’s native country’. Although such remarks could be down played and Moyo may not have given a hoot about the Peter Pan syndrome, such mentality however, is not fascinating at all and some people may find them extremely annoying and childish. They also have in them tribalistic, racist and xenophobic undertones and if not carefully managed can ignite and cause havoc in the country.
Our leaders must be careful in their choice and use of words, because as our role models, we believe and do what they say. If the likes of John Makandla (also known by street name Mazabathi) and his group of BDP drunkards and thugs are to subscribe to this tribalistic and fanatic play then be assured that the Falcon Crest episode will be nothing but a child’s play. Possibly with the knowledge of hindsight particularly from BDP and Office of the President spin doctors, much clarity may be provided that may allay any fears of xenophobia endorsed from highest political office, tribalism and an eruption of Civil war. Disappointingly, yet expectedly, there is always no official condemnation on the conduct and choice of words from our respective authorities. Not a word of reprimand was even heard from the President Ian Khama who himself when still fresh in the Presidential seat could not contain his excitement and publicly blasted Mugabe and labeled him a political pervert, and a dictator.
By doing so, President Ian Khama took a complete dramatic full swing and adopted a stance so starkly different from his predecessors. Now that the presidential honey period is over Botswana is finding itself in isolation, the arrogance and over excitement has not worked. Hardly a year after blasting Mugabe, it is reported that, President Ian Khama has made yet another dramatic u-turn and has changed his position on Zimbabwe. Uncle Bob who reacted furiously to Khama’s accusations last year will certainly have the last laugh. Hitting back at Botswana Uncle Bob may just say ‘I knew Botswana’s position was comical’, un-calculated and done with the sole intension of pleasing the imperialists and their ancestors’ General Khama and Skelemani actions have however, confirmed clearly without doubt that xenophobia is fully alive in Botswana. Otherwise how does one fault Moyo for having Zimbabwean roots? Why was it suggested that Moyo must take the next bus and cross into Zimbabwe?
I do not have any background or expertise in genealogy and as such cannot claim any professional experience on genealogical studies. I do not know anything about Phandu Chaha Skelemani and his origins, neither can I claim to know anything about Seretse Khama Ian Khama and his origins. The little that I have gathered on Seretse Khama Ian Khama is from newspapers and works of some scholars and historians. But I claim no authority at all over their citizenship and their origins.
Recently Advocate Sydney Tshepiso Pilane, former advisor to ex-president Festus G Mogae, also had his citizenship questioned and brought under close scrutiny. His citizenship was politicised under childish circumstances something that also borders on xenophobia and tribalism. My first cousins are of mixed race and growing up as a young boy I always took offence when any one would refer to them as coloureds or simply translated in Setswana ‘Makutwane’. In extreme cases I would fight when labelled as ‘Maphurutlhwane’ or in Afrikaans ‘Boerkie’.
Anyone married to an Afrikaner or having Afrikaner relatives would confess that the word ‘Boerkie’ is a demeaning word. I also have a cousin married to a white lady from England; I would take serious offence when racial remarks are made against my nephews and nieces. Two of my cousins are married to Zimbabweans, one to Shona and another one to Ndebele. Knowing how Zimbabweans are often abused, belittled and harassed I have decided to take it upon myself to protect them from racial and xenophobic attacks. The list is endless; I have a friend married to a Ghanaian, one to a Tanzanian, another one to a lady from Lesotho, including one of my twin friends who is married to a South African. Irrespective of having different ancestry backgrounds I respect their rights as citizens of this country.
Perhaps as Dr Unity Dow, former distinguished Judge and an accomplished author of repute, fought the rights of her children to keep their Botswana citizenship, we should all be prepared to defend our own least we find ourselves in an unfortunate position of defending our originality.
It is therefore a matter of concern since the xenophobic attitudes of Batswana, especially towards Zimbabweans have become extensive. The attitude has largely been shown through the dislike of black foreigner’s especially Zimbabwean immigrants. Xenophobia does not know boundaries, it happens everywhere and anywhere in Botswana, in our homesteads, work places; professional setups, health services, police stations, prisons, cattle posts, Chibuku depots and even in political circles.
At our homes, house helpers are abused, work long hours without rest, at our cattle posts, farm managers, herd boys can go months without being remunerated and in extreme cases are often sjamboked for this and that, in professional set ups, contractual renewals, rewards, promotions etc define their continuity of stay in organisations, they have to go with the flow and failure to abide will see them losing their chances of contract renewals. In health services for instance, a migrant’s legal and socio economic status largely determines their access to the national HIV and AIDS testing and treatment programme. ARVs are available to citizens only and there is no follow up on migrants and refugees that test positive to HIV, such as testing the CD 4 count or viral load. Migrants are also invisible within the policies, structures and programmes that set up to deal with HIV and AIDS pandemic in Botswana.
As a result of this a contradiction then arises in the Botswana government’s strategy in relation to combating HIV and AIDS. On the one hand, current policy is intended to reduce the rates of transmission and the prevalence of the disease.
On the other hand, structural features of the policy exclude different migrant groups. As a consequence, government strategy fails to acknowledge that the label ‘immigrant’ is not a barrier to sexual relations between migrants and members of the host society. Botswana needs to clearly retrospect its stance on Zimbabwe and on regional politics. Whilst its position might be fundamentally different from that of its counterparts, such a position should be calculative and strategic.
Although it can depart from quite diplomacy on Zimbabwe, in doing so, it ought to have a clear long term stand. Batswana also need to learn from the case studies of other African States and understand thoroughly how tyrannical systems of government have been hatched and nurtured in the minds of men who have appointed themselves philosopher kings and possessors of absolute truth. Such a position will save them from being hoodwinked and screwed into believing that theirs is super natural. This is Africa’. This is Africa, where there is so much lust for power, authoritarianism and repressiveness. As William Pitt, British Prime Minister from 1766 to 1778 said ‘Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who posses it’.
*Thabo Lucas Seleke is a lecturer of public policy in the Department of Political and Administrative studies at the University of Botswana.
