Dr Khama ascended to the presidency of the Republic of Botswana on the back of unprecedented public goodwill. His inauguration speech preached a sweetened roadmap of 4Ds ÔÇô democracy, development, dignity, and discipline. His unparalleled endorsement by a majority of Batswana allowed him to hit the ground running by introducing an array of policy initiatives many of which got public approval simply because they were the brainchild of Ian Khama. In effect, the Khama revolution gave new impetus and renewed hope for a better Botswana characterized by a fast growing economy and envied for her democratic practice hence referred variously as an African Miracle; a beacon of democracy and prosperity in a hopeless continent. Like a newly arrived pretty girl who enjoys the attention she gets from sun soaked lowlife herd boys, President Dr Khama became the undisputed people’s darling.
As they say, ‘if it seems too good to be true, it probably is’. President Dr Khama’s inauguration speech underpinned by a rendition of the 4Ds perched him atop the list of modern day icons. When President Dr Khama boldly asserted that ‘this is our country, the only country we have…Therefore whatever we do or whatever we say must be done and said in the best interests of this country,’ many were charmed, seduced and delighted to have a leader who publicly committed himself to growing the country on all fronts.
Thus, President Dr Khama came across as a patriot who was determined to create an environment conducive for the success of all. The icing on the cake was when President Dr Khama revealed in his inauguration speech that he was setting up a special committee of Cabinet responsible for economic issues and employment, and that he would lay out to Cabinet and senior management of government his expectations of them and that those unable to deliver would be gotten rid of. President Dr Khama sounded like a man determined to shake up the bureaucracy. He sounded like someone who meant business and determined to make a lasting impression and leave an indelible legacy. Indeed talking is cheap!
In spite of his alluring rhetoric, assertive confidence and a commanding demeanour, President Dr Khama risk becoming a once-promising mythical figure that fizzled out in a daze of ineffective short-termism policies that rendered him a phony little magician. President Dr Khamarisk becoming a forgotten former president once his term comes to close mainly because he failed to define a unique legacy for himself beyond his inconsequential popularity with folks in the villages who think leadership is about showing off and flaunting official entitlements.
Still in his inauguration speech, President Dr Khama paid tribute to his predecessor former president Mr Mogae frankly highlighting his achievements and the legacy he bequeathed us. He noted that ‘immense strides in areas such as economic management, gender equality, HIV/AIDS, infrastructure development and social transformation, to mention but a few, have been made under his stewardship of our country. As president, RreMogae was recognized locally and abroad for these achievements. He can boast an admirable track record that serves as an example for future leaders of this country and elsewhere in the international community’. Indeed former president RreMogae deserved such accolades which is why in 2010 he was nominated as a member of the Advisor Board of Teach AIDS, a US non-profit organization focusing on developing HIV prevention education technology products. RreMogae also won the Mo Ibrahim Prize in recognition for his outstanding leadership. If President Dr Khama was trying to flatter his predecessor for having given him a rare chance to become state president, he inadvertently documented RreMogae’s legacy which he (Khama) is has struggled to match.
Locally, there is nothing really outstanding that President Dr Khama could be remembered for. His infamous roadmap of 4Ds aborted before taking off. His Special Committee of Cabinet responsible for economic issues and employment must have achieved the opposite if it ever commenced operations because economic growth got into reverse mode while unemployment especially of graduates spiralled out of. The so-called Khama magic, a reference to his imaginary abilities to energize and inspire collective will for national prosperity was cruelly exposed as a hoax or a sedative with the same function as a sleeping pill in that it was meant to provide the poor with pleasant illusions so that they remained optimistic until he retired.
President Dr Khama ascended on the promise of a return to normalcy through the pursuit of one of his 4Ds ÔÇô discipline. He had observed that Batswana especially the youth were drifting away from basic values of botho and pledged to restore order by dealing with such social problems as alcohol abuse, disrespect for elders, the use of abusive language in public discourse and so forth. However, it is safe to say that President Dr Khama inherited a morally reprehensible nation that was nevertheless respectful, united and prosperous but left it morally bankrupt, ruined and virtually divided mainly due to his brand of politics famed for humiliating others such as when he publicly retorted that he cannot work with Mr Daniel Kwelagobe because he was sickly.
Internationally, his track record is generally negligible for a person who feigned moral high ground on good governance. He lacked the courage to face his peers but preferred to shout from the comfort of his office. Essentially, he never made any significant impactand has already been forgotten on the international stage because the international arena is for extraordinary beings. Thus, with nothing useful to be remembered for on the international arena and treasured onlyfor his cheap handshake on the domestic front, President Dr Khama is at risk of being written out of history. In fact, it would appear that he has actually forgotten that he is president in a way that bolstersand fast-tracks his impeding fade into obscurity.
Thus, from the get go President Dr Khama’svision of Botswana was too good to be true hence he has long ceased to be relevant. Unlike his immediate predecessor, President Dr Khama is hardly recognized locally and abroad and cannot serve as an example for future leaders. Fundamentally, President Dr Khama has resisted voices of reason that sought to help him do something worthwhile to be remembered for. For instance, this column has suggested for a national commission on reconciliation in order to promote forgiveness and national unity in a spirit of tolerance. This was in view that the Botswana society is split down the middle and therefore unable to stand against adversity. This would have been President Dr Khama’s stroke of genius to define his legacy.
President Dr Khama had a chance to redeem his legacy through the Economic Stimulus Program (ESP) but unfortunately let it succumb to the perils of cronyism. As things stands, he risks bequeathing to us a divided nation and dysfunctional economy characterized by a demoralized and dangerously militant public service that supposedly sabotage government programs.
In view that President Dr Khama has limited options to salvage his legacy before he steps down, he couldgo for the low hanging fruit and appoint a Presidential Commission to review the conditions of service for the public service with a view to improving the attractiveness of the public service in order to placate and motivate civil servants. Former President RreMogae did it in 2007. While boosting his legacy, this intervention would also greatly help in healing our public service that has been battered by Executive heavy-handedness.
All in all, the absence of a unique legacy from President Dr Khama has the potential to project him as someone who was clearly overmatched by the job of president; a former president who shall be known for anything other than having been railroaded into politics to scare of rebellious members and unify the faction-riddled BDP.
For a fact, President Dr Khamahit the ground running but is now fading away like a disgraced lip synching artiste. Indeed if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Safe holiday fellow citizens and GOD bless us all!
