BY THOBO MOTLHOKA
The late Botswana National Front (BNF) leader and founder Dr. Kenneth Koma, with his Marxist ideologies, would have condemned BNF and Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) leader Duma Boko’s bourgeoisie lifestyle. That is according to Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Member of Parliament Bagalatia Arone.
The former Botswana Congress Party (BCP) legislator said if Koma was around he was going to punish Boko for living a lifestyle that is against the ideals of the BNF.
“Look at the likes of Boko, how can they be defending the ideals of Botswana National Front and talking about rich people on the side of the BDP while they themselves are driving top-of-the range Range Rovers, he said, adding “If Koma was here, he was going to punish them.” Arone said when Koma started opposition politics he was asked if BNF was a political party and he said it was a ‘front not a political party’. He said currently there was confusion prevailing all over BNF.
He also accused Boko of failing to provide leadership within the UDC. “You have a leader (Boko) who despises everything. He is the most intelligent person that has ever happened in this world. He talks about how uneducated teachers are and you (UDC) guys are begging votes from teachers. That is the type of leader you want to make Batswana vote for,” Arone said, adding “Boko said Botswana is a dangerous country and it is unsafe. That is not true. What are the statistics saying? Why is everyone fighting to come to Botswana? This is because worldwide, people know Botswana as a very safe country. I do not mean zero crime but in terms of international statistics and standards, we are rated as a very safe country. Some of us live in the delta where most of our customers are tourists from all over the world. They choose Botswana because it is a safe country.”
He said that is why Members of Parliament do not move around with bodyguards like in other countries because Botswana remains a safe nation. He accused Boko of making xenophobic statements. “He is accusing the Botswana Democratic Party that the President in his trips abroad, is trying to favor the foreigners over the locals, void of truth, it is not true.” Arone said Botswana needed to create links globally.
“It is very important and you know that very well. Your leader stood here, presenting a statement on your behalf and your silence meant that you are in agreement that Botswana can exist without creating linkages with the global economies and other countries,” he said, addressing members of the UDC before praising the Alliance for Progressives (AP) for what he called balanced responses to the State of the Nation Address (SONA). “I want to thank the Alliance for Progressives under the leadership of Ndaba Gaolathe. You know for the first time Dr. (Phenyo) Butale, your Members gave a very good presentation in responding. I can see you are trying to make a distinction between yourselves and the other group of dreamers. I want to congratulate that because even when listening to your presentations, one could pick certain things. When you are criticizing, you are able to accept what other people have done,” Arone said.
