Botswana’s opposition parties, the Botswana Congress Party, Botswana National Front and Botswana Movement for Democracy, have said the visit by America’s First Lady, Michelle Obama, to Botswana is misplaced as it is based on America’s wrong perception of Botswana as a country that upholds democracy and respects people’s liberties.
In a media communiqu├® released on Friday, BCP’s Taolo Lucas, BNF’s Moeti Mohwasa and BMD’s Odirile Motlhale said Mrs. Obama should be very worried about the state of democracy in Botswana, given the developments of the recent public sector strike and Botswana’s repression of freedom of expression.
“It has emerged very clearly during the strike that the current government of the Republic of Botswana is insensitive to the plight of the workers in particular and its citizens in general. The government has breached all industrial relations protocols, in the process leading to a disruption of normal life in the country,” they said.
They added that the public sector strike has exposed the weaknesses of Botswana’s democracy as President Ian Khama disregarded the advice of other stakeholders like parliament, former presidents and even the clergy.
“Throughout the strike, government shut off the airwaves of state media facilities to the workers and all other alternative views. The ruthlessness with which the police dealt with striking workers and protesting school children was also unprecedented,” they said.
They accused the police of using excessive force on children, at times detaining them without due consideration of their rights. They also accused government of intimidating striking workers by arresting and detaining them under dubious circumstances.
“School children were detained without due consideration to the obtaining law in the country. Some workers were also arrested under very suspicious circumstances. Several employees were dismissed from work and re-employment is wrought with punitive measures,” said the opposition.
They also fingered President Khama as the worst culprit, accusing him of disrespecting the role of Parliament as a custodian and embodiment of people’s wishes and aspirations.
“We would like to inform Mrs. Obama that her visit to Botswana is ill-timed. Her visit during such trying times shall be construed as an endorsement of the situation that is currently obtaining in Botswana,” they said.
However, the opposition said they hold Mrs. Obama in very high esteem, and urged her not to associate herself with a country that desecrates democratic principles and shows scant respect for its citizens.
“We hope the First Lady will take note of the deteriorating state of Botswana’s democracy, the declining standards of our education and health systems as well as the intransigent attitude of the Lt General Ian Khama Seretse Khama’s government towards industrial relations,” they said.
