This instalment focuses on two unrelated issues, which came to the attention of the public over the past few weeks. Although they were not matters that captured the imagination of the public, they were still very important issues with far reaching implication on related to governance of this republic. The two issues are not related in anyway, but, interestingly, they have managed to attract somewhat similar critical responses from concerned parties ÔÇô or should I say individuals.
Before I dwell on the substantive issues, I thought it wise to congratulate the Botswana athletic team for the stellar performance from the just ended Africa Youth Games hosted in Gaborone. We should not forget, in addition, to extend the same treatment to those who scarified to develop and nurture our talent. Obviously there are many people involved in development of such talent, but the teachers in particular deserve more credit. I cannot overemphasise the centrality of teachers in the development process of our future stars. They work under unfavourable conditions, but yet they do their best to carry through the dreams of our kids. Undoubtedly, these games have provided a valuable opportunity to those in charge of the education system, to resolve long standing, and to be frank, unnecessary wrangling between the education ministry and teachers. The sooner the better principals at the ministry of education address conditions of service for our teachers so that we can continue on the path to success, especially in sport.
Now back to the subject matter for this instalment. As indicated in the opening paragraph, Sunday Standard newspaper has over the past weeks brought to the public attention the cancer of corruption and mismanagement bedevilling our public institutions, in particular those within the security cluster. It is a messy situation akin to the infamous Spy vs. Spy cartoons! The disturbing allegations relates to roles played by the DIS. There is a certain Mr Jim or whatever, arriving poverty stricken in our shores over the past decades. Interestingly, he strikes rich big time. His accumulated wealth, disturbingly, is allegedly a result of his connections to high ranking officials at the spy organisation. Among many other projects undertaken by this character with dubious connections, we are told, are at our president’s Mosu compound. This is where the story gets juicy.
Sometimes last week during BTV evening news, the presenter’s script is interrupted, with a cautionary message to Batswana effectively telling them that they are advised by the powers that be to ignore ÔÇô and treat as untruths ÔÇô news items making headlines in the Sunday Standard newspaper. Interesting, isn’t it?
The other interesting story concerned, yet again, a piece entitled “A peace pact between UDC and BCP would deliver a different set of election results” written in the Sunday Standard by one other than Spencer Mogapi. In his column, The Watchdog, Spencer talks of how the opposition, yet again, faces the BDP in a fragmented state. He doubts if they will break the iron grip of the ruling party to attain state power. Principally, he talks of how the failure to unite by opposition parties, once again, will work to the advantage of the BDP. He rightly observes that the ruling party today is much weaker than at any point in its history, but the irony of the story is that the BDP will assume state power come October, thanks to the BCP’s dramatic decision to pull out of the Umbrella project. Spence was not telling us anything we do not know. What he was simply highlighting was the precarious state in which the opposition finds itself largely because of their actions: denial of the impact of vote splitting.
Although the two issues cited above are not related in any way, they somehow managed to create somewhat related responses from principals of the concerned parties. Yes, there has since been very loud noise, obviously, of denial emanating from both ends. In the first case, government is reportedly asking Batswana to ignore allegations against security clusters and the president of the republic. The immediate question to me was why would government take this course of action, instead of pursuing others – such as courts of law in case the reports were lacking in truth?
On the second issue, electronic media ÔÇô especially facebook was last week awash with castigation of Spencer’s conclusions on the effects of vote splitting, by BCP president, Dumelang Shaleshando and his followers. They rubbished Spencer’s claims. This was not unusual. A pattern of denial always emerges when such issues are brought to surface. Take, for instance, Taolo Lucas – BCP publicity secretary – response in one of local radio stations about the UDC’s win in Gaborone Block 8 by-elections a year or so ago. To him, UDC win of 6 votes beating both BCP and BDP (who garnered same numbers) undermined established view that lack of cooperation by opposition parties worked in favour of the mighty resourced BDP. Actually, in his view, UDC’s win demonstrated that when opposition parties challenged the ruling party individually, they stood a better chance of winning an election! This is what the BCP wants the nation to believe!
In this environment of denial though, governance indicators are showing Botswana in a free fall. Effectively, as a nation we are headed to nowhere. But instead of facing the music and taking corrective action, the ruling party has developed a tendency of engaging in a game of denial. The unsuspecting public, in the process, is constantly reminded that those exposing the rot are hell-bent on destroying this country. Ironically, what should have logically provided the best possible alternative for alternation of government in our republic ÔÇô unity of opposition parties ÔÇô is, sadly, presented by others in the opposition as a non-starter. The truth, however, is that in the absence of a strong opposition, the ruling party will continue to do as it please and, as a result, heighten the downfall of this country.
