In his fascinating book titled, “On Politics and the Art of Acting, playwright”, Arthur Miller stated that acting ability is an aspect of leadership in every arena, from the playground to the board room. The candidate who is most likely to succeed today is the one who acts as though the camera isn’t there, a description that fits very well for Ian Khama.
Ian Khama’s conduct and behaviour has attracted scholarly attention with many scholars describing him as enigma. Professor of Political Science from the University of Botswana, Prof Mpho G Molomo in his paper “Democracy Under Siege” stated that after Khama ascended to the reign of power, he embraced populist and autocratic tendencies. According to Molomo Khama was said to be contemptuous of established norms of governance.
For his part, the deported Political Science Professor, the late Professor Kenneth Good stated that, since Ian Khama succession to Presidency, there was an escalation in the militarization and personalization of power, seeing military personnel entering government in increased numbers.
It is of no surprise that even after post presidency, Ian Khama has been running amok, holding cross border hate interviews in the Republic of South Africa against a country he purports to love. Khama has been on a critical path of self-destruction, been contemptuous of established norms of governance, has been extremely reckless, disrespectful and just lacking in botho. It is his way or the highway leading to the former President Festus Mogae saying:
“He is continuing to do what he did when he was my vice president, being divisive factor instead of a uniting factor”
In an interesting turn of events, Ian Khama shocked many when he dropped a bombshell by telling his followers that he was resigning from BDP at a political rally he addressed in Serowe to Bangwato and Ba-gaMmangwato on the 25th May 2019.
At that political rally, this is what Ian Khama said:
I am really shocked o dira motho President and he turns against you”. “O bata go re twaela,” said Khama accusing President Mokgweetsi Masisi of sabotage.
‘I came here to tell you that I am cutting ties with the BDP as I do not recognize this party anymore. It was a mistake to choose Masisi as my successor”. “I will now work with the opposition to make sure that the BDP loses power in October,” Khama said.
As to whether the BDP lost the 2019 elections, this was not to be, otherwise he would have not skipped the country like a gangster and would not be in hiding holding cross border hate interviews against a country, his critics have argued.
At the Serowe political rally Kgosi Khama IV did not behave and conduct himself like a King. His mannerisms as well as that of other speakers were found wanting. What was evident at the Serowe political rally is that ethnic bigotry and diatribe was being promoted. So dramatic was Khama at the political rally that he flashed his BDP membership card and said:
“Karata e ya Domkrag nna ke a e latlha”.
As he did that many of his tribesmen followed suit by throwing away their BDP membership cards in solidarity with Kgosi Kgolo. Setswana society, however, expects and requires having “botho” which is derived from “Motho” (a human being). Botho refers to the possession of the good attributes associated with a good human being.
Khama’s critics have always pointed out to the fact that he is a self-centred jug-head, a megalomaniac who thinks of only himself and has no respect for anyone including his subjects let alone bo-Rangwane a Kgosi in Serowe. Some of his followers are just seen as blind followers and are not able to read his motives and agenda. His running to SA media to speak evil of the country and the current President clearly demonstrates that he is lacking in “botho”.
Kgosi Kgolo Khama and Baga-Mmangwato behave as if Botswana belongs to Serowe. Khama and Baga-Mmangwato think Khama’s father Seretse made Botswana what it is. For a record, this is just an illusion, just a wishful thinking.
What Khama and Baga-Mmangwato must know is that historical records and documents clearly show that long before Khama returned to Botswana to form the BDP with his counterparts all other major tribes including Ghanzi, Chobe and Francistown participated in the African Advisory Council (ADC) which looked into the development of Bechuanaland. The minutes of the 13th session of the Bechuanaland Protectorate African Council held at Mafikeng 21-29th April 1949 show that while Seretse Khama was enjoying the luxuries of England many Tswana Chiefs and others actively participated in the building and development of Bechuanaland.
Like Father, like son, Seretse Khama similarly went on a deliberate crusade to ensure that they crumbled the institution of Bogosi. Khama did not bother about Chieftaincy either even though he himself was a chief of the Bangwato. His main interest was to hold a higher political office where his superintendent role over chiefs would be felt. He abused Magosi, conned them and used his educational qualifications, and Bangwato royalty to manipulate them. The Chiefs acted in good faith in dealing with him and they thought he was one of them and that he was with them. It was a relationship based on goodwill; they were, however, fooled and hoodwinked. Khama’s project was beyond, with a primary motive of establishing and building an empire for himself. Khama was hungry for power, and he had in him some dictatorial tendencies. He saw himself as someone above the chiefs and his main mission was to establish a pseudo feudal state. His footprints can be seen in his son Ian.
In 1970, Kgosi Neale Sechele was compelled to resign as Chief of the Bakwena following a two-man commission appointed by President Sir Seretse Khama to investigate alleged negligence of duty and abuse of alcohol levelled against the Kgosi. In 2010, a team consisting of former Ministers and Speakers of Parliament Matlapeng Ray Molomo and Patrick Balopi together with a Ngwato royal Sediegeng Kgamane and former Police Commissioner and Kweneng native Simon Hirschfeld were commissioned by former President Ian Khama (Seretse’s son) to probe into the troubles of Kweneng District, particularly the factional tussles in the Bakwena royal family. The commission did not impress many people, a situation that compelled Mohumagadi Kgosiemang to caution Kgosi Kgari III that he should have let Bakwena resolve their own problems as opposed to bringing in Ian Khama to do it for them. She reminded him of the 1970 debacle where Neale Sechele was compelled to abdicate Bogosi and summed it up by saying ‘Noga e Tsala Nogana’ (‘a snake begets a small snake’), literally cautioning Kgosi Kgari to be careful in his dealings with Khama.
In 1973, Kgosi Seepapitso IV was suspended for one year because he was purported to have on several occasions behaved in a manner deemed unbecoming for a Kgosi and was perceived as a poor performer in the execution of his chieftaincy functions. In 1977, Sir Seretse Khama’s administration dismissed Kgosi Besele II of Barolong for dereliction of duty. Earlier in 1969, Kgosi Bathoen II of Bangwaketse was compelled by law to quit bogosi in order to pursue a political career on an opposition Botswana National Front (BNF) ticket. Kgosi Tawana Moremi of Batawana suffered the same fate, as he had to live his father’s Kgotla to join politics. However, in sharp contrast to this image, Sir Seretse Khama in 1979, appointed his son Ian Khama (then a Brigadier in the army), Kgosi of the Bangwato tribal while still serving in the army. By so doing Sir Seretse Khama set up a very bad precedent that inculcated a sense of entitlement and prestige to the young brigadier. The ceremony took place at the Bangwato’s main kgotla in Serowe, the government owned Kutlwano magazine of this period has a photo of Ian Khama clad in military tunic bringing firewood to the kgotla.
It must be noted that Seretse Khama installed Ian Khama as Kgosi of the Bangwato despite an undertaking by Seretse and his uncle, Tshekedi, made in the mid-1950s that they were abdicating chieftaincy of the Bangwato for themselves and their children. Throughout his Presidency, Ian Khama remained the only politician in Botswana who is also a paramount chief, thus flouting a precedent that was set by Kgosi Bathoen II. This was after Bathoen II had routed Marquette Joni Ketumile Masire in the 1969 elections on an opposition Botswana National Front ticket. Former President Ian Khama enjoyed special privileges to wear two hats of being a politician and Kgosi contrary to constitutional provisions.
The Gazette Newspaper of the 2nd March 2011 carried a story showcasing how Seretse and Masire unilaterally adopted the constitution document without the consent of Batswana, opposition political parties and Dikgosi. According to the Gazette Newspaper, Dikgosi were not party to the constitutional talks that were held in Marlborough House (UK) on the eve of independence on the 15th February 1966.
In 2016, I advised that when personality researchers and behavioural scientists get to analyse Ian Khama’s character, they will indeed agree that we had monumental ego of a Ngwato chief whose tribe think Presidency “ke Lehura laga Mmangwato. It is indeed sickening. As to whether he will ever come back to Botswana, the Gods will be crazy. O itse se a se tshabileng.
*Thabo Lucas Seleke, Ph.D Candidate, London, UK
