Gaborone Central MP, Dumelang Saleshando, has urged President Ian Khama to promote Botswana’s interests by attending and marketing Botswana at regional and international meetings.
Commenting on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation budget proposal, Saleshando said that ever since his inauguration in 2008, Khama has left the role promoting Botswana’s interests outside to Vice President Mompati Merafhe.
“Promoting the nations interest is first and foremost the responsibility of the Head of State,” said Saleshando.
He added that Botswana is the only country whose President is continuously absent from international meetings like the United Nations General Assembly (UN) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) summits.
“We need a President who can engage with his peers in the international arena once a year,” he said.
Saleshando said that Khama avoids these international meetings, adding that such an approach was not sustainable or in Botswana’s interest.
“The International community needs to interact with him and know his views,” he stated.
Saleshando advised officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to prevail upon President Khama and persuade him to attend UN and regional meetings instead of delegating the Vice President.
He also complained that by failing to respect the judgment by the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights, Botswana is a clear demonstration of a rogue state.
The African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights had ruled in favour of Professor Good after he was kicked out of Botswana for his strong criticism of ex-president Festus Mogae’s government.
Saleshando said that as a signatory to the African Charter Botswana is supposed to honour the judgment of the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights.
He said that he could not understand why Botswana remains mum over Swaziland’s political climate while Botswana’s foreign policy espouse values such as democracy, rule of law peace and tranquility.
He warned that the double standards will come back to haunt Botswana.
He said that government should openly condemn Moswati’s regime.
Meanwhile, another legislator, Guma Moyo of Tati East, has called for some consistency in the manner in which Botswana responds to global issues.
He said that it was important for Botswana to thoroughly assess her position before speaking out, adding that at times it was important to allow for the issues to be canvassed regionally before Botswana could take a position.
“Some of these issues require some element of sensitivity…For a landlocked country like ours, we cannot speak like we are a superpower…at times it’s like we are too aggressive,” said Moyo.
Moyo said Botswana cannot afford to alienate her neighbours, especially on burning regional and international issues.
Skelemani wants parliament to approve a recurrent budget of P374 360 470 and a development budget of about 4 million.
