This commentary was triggered by a Press Statement issued by atleast 12 civil society organisations this week concerning our democracy and the state of our public institutions mainly the DCEC, DIS and others.
For the sake of those who might not have come across it, the statement amongst other things calls on President Mokgweetsi Masisi to take necessary measures to ensure that the ongoing inter-state organs combat is resolved in accordance with the African Union convention relating to honesty and integrity.
The statement comes at a time when there is a lot of speculation doing the rounds on a question on whether Botswana is at risk of becoming a failed state.
The statement comes at a time when the international community and corporate Botswana are watching with keen interest the rate at which we have been descending in relation to the political and socio-economic spheres.
The civil society press statement comes at a time when a good number of our people have been challenging our leaders to put in places initiatives that will put in place an all-inclusive social contract that leaves no one behind. Our people yearn for a social contract that could serve as a buffer to the rising cost of living that is partially blamed on a European war but also has a lot to do with who controls the local economy.
The civil society press statement should not be interpreted as an address to the government machinery alone but as a call to the key individuals that are responsible for our descent. The two are separate entities hence the temptation to compare the past administrations with the incumbent.
This commentary adds to the civil society’s voice, to make a call to all those who wish to live in an ethical state of constitutional democracy, law and order, economic growth and the provision of human dignity. By human dignity I mean decent housing, education, healthcare, business opportunities and employment for the majority of our people.
The restoration of human dignity in Botswana will not come unless and until we have ethical and loyal leadership. So, if there ever was a time when an examination of ethical leadership would be useful in our country it would be now. This cut across all sectors – government, private companies’ board rooms, newsrooms, entertainment and even in religious organisations. We are experiencing a dangerous time in our country that even putting up this commentary is such a big risk on the side of the author. It is worrisome that some of our leaders and those they have appointed to higher offices do not like criticism. Our people should however never forget that leaders who think they are never wrong, leaders who never question their own perspective through others, leaders who can never make a minute to listen to those who disagree with them are a danger to the nation and themselves.
In their statement, the 12 civil society organisations called on the government to ensure that there is good governance and accountability in our country. I believe we are at a point where it’s now upon the civil society itself to reverse Botswana’s destructive trajectory. Without a fundamental commitment to the truth, good governance and accountability —-especially in our public institutions and those who lead them –we are a lost nation. A commitment to some of these principles is what separates an ethical leader from those who just happen to occupy leadership roles. This is another special call to our dear leader to consider contents of the civil society press statement and act on their requests which are essentially desires of Batswana.
While we wait for a response from the Presidency, as a citizen concerned about the state of fragmentation and the downward spiral of our economy, I call on the civil society to go beyond writing Press Statements. We have had so many statements about the same issue before. The question is why are we still descending? The immediate answer is that the press statements and public pronouncements are not enough —there is need for some action.
An urban myth says that if you put a frog in a pot of hot water, it will try to escape immediately. However, if you put the frog in a pot filled with room-temperature water and incrementally increase the temperature, the frog will not try to escape, and will eventually be boiled to death.
The on and off public pronouncements and press statements issued by the civil society suggests that something similar is happening regarding unethical conduct in our country. We have gradually got accustomed to unethical conduct, and are learning to simply accept it as normal business practice by issuing press statements and writing commentaries like I am doing now.
Our leaders both at government enclave and the civil society organisations that signed the press statement should see beyond short term, beyond the urgent and take every action that will lead us to a prosperous nation. This commentary should not be interpreted as an attack on anyone, but a reminder to those in power that leadership is not about running away from criticism or hiding from uncomfortable questions. Our leaders both at government enclave and the civil society organisations should consider opening up for a national dialogue on this matter, with a view to build a prosperous nation, not destroy opponents.
This is not the right time for competition. It is the right time to rebuild what we destroyed over the last few decades when we refused to economically empower our people. With conflicted leadership at government enclave, I put it to our people that it is now up to the civil society to reverse that trajectory we find ourselves in. The #Bottomline is that it is up to the civil society to amongst other things formulate a transformative people’s manifesto and demand its immediate and urgent implementation.
