Even though the greatest supporters of the Khama administration vehemently contend that we have made progress as a nation during the past two years, I am of the view that the current administration has not really taken this country to another level.
It is characterized by an ambition to dilute our democracy. It is obsessed with centralization of power when countries around the world are making concerted efforts of enhancing the process of decentralization.
Some of our ministers have little respect for parliament and by extension, citizens.
They are big-headed and power hungry. They think that they own parliament and citizens of this country as evidenced by the irresponsible answers that they sometimes give to parliament. They have no regard for consultation which is the cornerstone of our democracy.
They believe that they can change various legal instruments as and when they want without consulting all the stakeholders who are directly and indirectly affected by their decisions. The implications of the proposed amendments on the fundamental human rights and freedoms of all the affected people and citizens at large are of no relevance to the concerned ministers.
They just do not care.
Who can forget the answer that was given by former minister, Lesego Motsumi, when responding to a parliamentary question on how people who are relatives and close friends of President Khama got to know about the multi-million BDF tenders? Just recently, Minister Masisi made irresponsible utterances regarding the nurses and doctors who were fired for participating in the suspended industrial action.
I find it disrespectful for Rre Masisi to say that the fired public servants must demand their jobs from the opposition MPs when DPSM, which falls under his ministry, is deliberately taking time to reinstate them. He seems to have forgotten that he is in cabinet because he is an MP first. And as an MP he should know that it is important for him to choose words carefully and respect the people that he is serving.
The Acting Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Edwin Batshu, recently told parliament that Collins & Newman law firm was engaged to fight trade unions at the industrial court because the Attorney General does not have the necessary experience to handle labour issues! By answering in the manner in which he did, Rre Batshu basically passed a motion of no confidence on the Attorney General.
If the Attorney General, whom I respect and hold in high esteem for having trained so many reputable lawyers and judicial officers, cannot handle labour issues, what assurance do we have as citizens that she will handle issues of life and death competently when called to do so?
Collins & Newman law firm is not the only firm that has the experience of handling labour issues. Hence, I expected Rre Batshu to go a step further in helping citizens (who pay the legal fees) to understand and appreciate the circumstances that compelled the government to engage a law firm that is currently used by President Khama, the BDP, Minister Mathambo who is charged with corruption and former minister, Ndelu Seretse, who is also charged with corruption.
This is very important because we currently have a very unique situation whereby a law firm that is fighting the government in courts on corruption issues is also used to fight in the government’s corner on labour issues. Collins & Newman cannot play for and against the government simply because we are told that they are more experienced than the Attorney General. This raises the issue of conflict of interest which I sadly believe is of no interest to Rre Batshu.
Immediately after the suspension of the industrial action, the Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Peter Siele, moved swiftly to amend the Trade and Disputes Act without consulting teachers, veterinary officers and diamond sorters regarding the government’s intention to classify them as people offering essential services. He did not consult parliament, an institution that gave him the power to amend the instrument after thorough consultations with the relevant stakeholders. As a retired senior civil servant and senior minister, Rre Siele should have known better.
As a result of his haphazard way of doing things, which I believe was meant to please his political master, Rre Siele embarrassed himself when parliament forced him to withdraw the proposed amendment. He then stated in one of the local private radio stations that the Act states that he can only consult if it is “practicable.” What made it impractical for him not to consult still remains a mystery to all parliamentarians and all those who are directly affected by his decision.
As if the drama that unfolded in parliament when Rre Siele withdrew his amendment was not enough, the Minister of Local Government, Lebonamang Mokalake, tabled an amendment to the Local Government (District Councils) Act and Townships Act without consulting the relevant stakeholders. It is important for us to note that his main responsibility as the minister is to ensure that councils deliver on their mandate, not to stifle democracy at the local level.
His attempt to centralize power in his office to the extent of firing popularly elected councilors or deciding on what should happen to them in the event that they defect to another political party is the beginning of tyranny. It is purely undemocratic and must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. It is the responsibility of the voters, not the minister, to decide on what action to take against councilors who defect to other political parties with their seats.
The Minister of Local Government currently has vast powers over councils and other local authorities falling under his ministry. He should be striving towards enhancing the process of decentralization rather than centralizing power in his office. Gone are the days when local authorities should be treated as mere appendages of the central government. They should be accorded the respect and recognition that they deserve as important partners in the process of national development.
Thus, I fully support the proposal that was made to the Vension Commission in 2001 that councils should be incorporated into the country’s constitution so that they are fully protected from people who are power hungry like Rre Mokalake. Their inclusion in the constitution will prevent a situation whereby a minister can just abolish a council for reasons known to him or her.
The recent developments in terms of how national issues are handled and addressed by ministers as briefly discussed above clearly indicate that they (ministers) take parliament and citizens for granted. Ministers have relegated consultation to the dustbins and do not care about the interests of the people that they are serving. Whilst it is widely accepted that our parliament is weak, I strongly believe that its relationship with the Executive must be based on mutual respect and trust.
It is regrettable that we are currently witnessing regression of democracy and centralization of power.
This is a sad period in the history of our republic.
Hence, ministers must learn to respect parliament and citizens because they will one day be called to account for conducting public business with sheer arrogance.
