The honey moon and joyous celebrations that erupted in Zimbabwe after the ousting of Africa’s last standing dictator, RG Mugabe who ruled Zimbabwe with an iron fist for 37 years are not yet over. However, after the celebrations the real work must begin. The new government must build a new democratic dispensation and ensure economic recovery.
Just as when Zimbabweans are still in a partying mood, another fiasco erupted in South Africa, with the forced resignation of Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma, a.k.a Msholozi by his ruling party the ANC. Thus bringing to an end the Zuptarization of the South African economy and government as well an end to rule by a self styled monarch and a polygamist previously acquitted of raping Fezekile Ntsukela Kuzwayo, a.k.a Khwezi, thus signaling new dawn in South Africa; no more time for un-necessary funny laughter from JZ, no more time for dancing “Awuleth’ Umshini wam. Time is now for Matamela Cyril Ramoposa to carry out serious overhaul, sanitizing and cleaning the rot now prevalent in Mzanzi.
Batswana have to patiently wait as they start doing the final countdown to the morning after of the 31st March 2018. To many, It looks like a long walk to freedom that will bring an end to the rule of a military junta, a self styled philanthropist who is currently on a national tour bidding the poor rural folks good-bye. In return, the poor rural folks have to dig deep in their pockets and empty their kraals with many of these villagers wanting to outperform one other in the Tlatsa Lesaka good-bye national tour.
Many can’t wait for April fools day 2018. And once Sissy Boy assumes Presidency, heads MUST roll. Sissy has to be his own man and he must clean up his cabinet, reshuffle and drop those who think they own certain Ministries. Many have to be investigated for alleged criminal activities. Sissy must be fearless. Sissy Boy, must not even shy away from using his Executive powers to reverse many of the things that Tshetlha is continuously doing and promising Batswana in his Tlatsa Lesaka national tour.
He must also go an extra mile and reverse some of the appointments that Tshetlha has carried out on the eve of his Presidential exit. Sissy Boy MUST not shy away from dropping Tshetlha as the Chair of Vision 2036. He must assume that role himself. The onus is on Sissy Boy to be his own man and go to Bakgatla Ba Kgafela and tell them that he dis-agrees with what Tshelha told them on his Tlatsa Lesaka bye-byes in Mochudi on the 15th Feb 2018. Sissy Boy should take a different approach to Tshetlha’s and should humble himself and should show some respect to Bakgatla Ba Kgafela Kgosi Kgolo. In his April fool day inauguration speech Sissy Boy must make a announcement that he will with immediate effect drop the trumped up charges against Kgosi Kgolo Kgafela Kgafela.. He must also make an announcement that he will also visit Bakgatla Ba Kgafela Kgosi Kgolo in RSA and that he will be accompanied by Kgosi Oscar Mosilelele and Bakgatla Ba ga Mmanana elders.
What will follow thereafter will be after tears. An introspection dear reader. I start!!!!!!.
In their exchange in 2007 Paul Farmer from Partners in Health (PIH) and Garret Laurie stated that success in the delivery of health services is possible with the right program. Laurie had argued on the contrary that the influx of AIDS funding does not really translate into success stories. In support of statement Laurie noted that less than a decade ago, the biggest problem in global health seemed to be the lack of resources available to combat the multiple scourges ravaging the world’s poor and sick.
Today, thanks to a recent extraordinary and unprecedented rise in public and private giving, more money is being directed toward pressing heath challenges than ever before. But because the efforts this money is paying for are largely uncoordinated and directed mostly at specific high-profile diseases — rather than at public health in general – there is a grave danger that the current age of generosity could not only fall short of expectations but actually make things worse on the ground. As to whether Laurie’s assertion holds is something that requires further enquiry and analysis. I use in this piece Farmer and Laurie exchanges to help me assess Botswana’s fight against the HIV/AIDS by looking at the political commitment displayed by Masire, Mogae and Khama.
Unlike his predecessor President Ian Khama, appears to have lacked the passion and the drive that Mogae had. Khama perceived by many as a game changer has been accused of failing the nation, had his interest and priorities elsewhere. Although Botswana has made remarkable progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS, the country appears to have regressed and therefore, losing the battle. Since President Ian Khama took over from Festus G Mogae, there was a shift of focus from public health to personal security of President Ian Khama. National projects and programs became personalized and branded in Khama’s name. Mogae had the passion and the drive, displayed high political commitment, something that has been not visible in the presidency of Ian Khama.
Academicians alarmed us, scholars warned us, social and political commentators also had their part to say, and unfortunately the nation was hypnotized by some false prophecy about the existence of some magic in the current leadership. There were early warnings with respect to what was to come out of the leadership of Khama but not much attention was paid to it and now the nation has been befallen by disaster as pointed out by many of Khama’s critics. Since assuming office, Khama’s leadership style has been very unique, sort of withdrawn and detached from the status quo. As a result of this there has been a mixed bag of reactions towards his style of leadership both locally and abroad.
Some say he is a non-confrontational leader, while others argue that he is a reluctant President who is detached from reality and lives in the world of fantasy by thinking that poverty eradication and dignity can be achieved by giving people blankets, radios, shirts and dishing soup. His opponents have been a constant thorn on him and say his rule has come at a cost, by throwing money at problems instead of formulating long term sustainable programs and projects that are cost effective with measurable outputs and has in the process neglected important issues of national concern.
It must be noted that Mogae inherited a public health system that was fatigued; almost all the intervention treatment and prevention programs that were introduced during Masire’s time had failed to perform wonders. Mogae confronted the situation with seriousness and vigor Mogae’s predecessor, Masire had made attempts to confront the situation without much success. During Masire’s tenure, there was an explosive rate of HIV/AIDS, living many people dead and families devastated. When Mogae came into office, people had lost hope, almost every weekend there were burial of HIV/AIDS victims. The country was going through health genocide and Mogae came in to save his nation.
Masire must have been stressed or perhaps clueless. He was in a helpless state. Although his administration had recognized the problem of AIDS soon after the first case was diagnosed in the country, followed by the development of a series of strategic plans, nothing much changed. Despite the booming economy, high GNP and GDP, the wealth of the nation did not translate into a healthy nation. HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns were promoted as an attempt to changing sexual behavior and many of these campaigns were carried out through national radio, car bumper stickers and T shirts to get the message across, but there was little success on their impact. In fact HIV/AIDS commonly came to be refereed as the Radio disease. The campaigns were followed by the ABC slogan (Abstain, Be Faithful and Condomise), they too failed to change the mindset of the people.
Unfortunately Khama appeared less interested, was far detached, had his priorities elsewhere and hence his critics constantly accused him of leaving in the world of fantasy. At a time when money is tight, it is advisable before looking for places to cut spending on health care, look first for opportunities to improve efficiency. But we all know what Khama did, wasted money on his pet projects, failed to create jobs for the young graduates and has left the education system in a near state of collapse. The only thing left for us is join hands and forces with Sissy Boy and help him win. We must all come together as a collective, including opposition political parties and re-build our nation. Khama;s administration has brought it to its knees and there no time to be fooled by praise poets, fat cats, over draft millionaires, thieves and corrupt pretenders and self praise achievers. No need to fear the terror squad for Death Is Simple (DIS) and one or two killings will not be bad for the country after all life is a passage and we are all going to die.
Thabo Lucas Seleke is a Scholar & Researcher in Global Health Policy & Health Systems Strengthening
