On Thursday 16 June 2011, at our request, the leaders of the three opposition parties represented in the National Assembly met with the Speaker, Hon Margaret Nasha in her Chambers . The purpose of the meeting was to receive an update on resolution 2(viii) contained in the communiqu├® of the General Assembly of the Members of Parliament of the Republic of Botswana, dated 3rd June 2011. The resolution in question read as follows;
“ That a delegation of the Members of Parliament be, and is hereby constituted to meet and make representations to His Excellency the President Lieutenant General Seretse Khama Ian Khama and to the BOFEPUSO leadership respectively.”
Upon adoption of the resolution by the General Assembly, the Speaker asked for names of the individuals who would constitute the delegation. In line with the principle of fair representation reflecting the composition of the National Assembly, each of the four political parties i.e.) BDP, BMD, BCP and BNF were asked to nominate one individual. Established convention is for the parliamentary leaders to be given first priority in any engagement of this nature; hence the ruling party was asked to submit its representative whereupon Hon Daniel Kwelagobe assigned Hon Olebile Gaborone to act on his behalf. On account of the fact that the parliamentary leader of the BMD, Hon Botsalo Ntuane, was scheduled to travel for a SADC PF meeting in the Republic of Angola, the party nominated its Chairman, Hon Nehemiah Modubule to become part of the delegation. Likewise Hon Dumelang Saleshando of the BCP who was scheduled to travel to the UK on parliamentary business was indisposed and the BCP in his place submitted the name of Hon Gilson Saleshando. The BNF nominated Hon Isaac Mabiletsa in his capacity as its parliamentary leader. The delegation was to be led by the Hon Speaker, who delegated the Deputy Speaker Hon PPP Moatlhodi since she too would be travelling to Angola for the SADC PF. The General Assembly adjourned on this note with the understanding that the Speaker’s Office would initiate a meeting with President Khama in line with its resolution. The meeting of 16 June 2011 was therefore meant to follow up the Speaker on developments since the resolution of the General Assembly. Hon Nasha responded to our query by indicating that she had been in telephonic contact with President Khama on the subject of the resolution. In the course of their discussions the President had indicated that he was available to meet with the delegation, and would confirm the date and time on Friday(17 June 2011). The President did however state that he would only meet the delegation on condition that Hon Modubule were not part of it. We sought to know from the Speaker if the President had given any reasons for this shocking demand to which the Speaker reported that the President was emphatic in his demand, albeit without offering an explanation.
Following consultations within the opposition collective, it was resolved that if President Khama’s condition for meeting a delegation of Parliament nominated by the General Assembly was the removal of one of our colleagues, for reasons unknown, then we were not in a position to attend the meeting. To us it is unacceptable for the President to impose terms and conditions on a delegation comprising elected representatives from one of the three arms of government. Furthermore, by acceding to such whims and impulses, we would be promoting a dangerous precedent whereby the President would contrive to divide any organised section of our society. If we allow Hon Modubule to be ostracized on grounds only known to the President, it would not be far-fetched to believe that tomorrow, the clergy or even the national football team, The Zebras, would be instructed on who should comprise their delegation coming to meet President Khama. We are, again, dismayed by the attitude of the President and cannot allow ourselves to be complicit in any act calculated at victimising one of our colleagues; hence our decision to close ranks around Hon Modubule by opting out of the meeting with the President. Our decision is also based on the principle of protecting the independence of parliament as an institution.
Ever since President Khama took office on 1st April 2008, we have been consistent in our opposition to his style of leadership which seeks to polarise this nation and its institutions to serve ends only known to himself and his close entourage. We recently witnessed a naked manifestation of this doctrine of divide and rule during the public service strike when the President polarised the country between the unemployed and the employed; stating that he is on the side of the unemployed when as Head of State he is considered the Father of the Nation, irrespective of his personal prejudices which should remain personal.
A growing number of Batswana are deeply alarmed by a President who seems averse to the traditions and conventions which have been instrumental in the evolution of our nation over the years. We recall how at the height of the public service strike, President Khama refused to engage in dialogue with former president Sir Ketumile Masire, The Botswana Christian Council and even a delegation from the BDP Parliamentary Caucus. The snubbing of the afore mentioned individuals and organizations was preceded by President Khama’s refusal to discuss the public sector strike with leaders of the Parliamentary Opposition. The national leaders of the BCP, BMD and BNF (Messrs Saleshando, Motswaledi and Boko) also wrote to the President requesting a meeting to explore a resolution to a national crises which has no precedent in our history, but up to this day, they have not been favoured with the courtesy of a response.
We must underline that we consider ourselves a partner in democracy, national development and good governance and we call on President Khama to recognise this critical role and refrain from the contempt and disdain in which he holds the Opposition. For President Khama to believe he can run this country alone without the active participation of the opposition betrays lack of judgment and amounts to a fallacy that is increasingly being exposed.
We wish the nation to note that as the Parliamentary Opposition we remain committed to discharging our constitutional mandate, including engaging the Executive on all matters of national interest. In turn we call on President Khama to accord Parliament the respect it deserves in a democratic society. The institution of Parliament is the pillar on which our democracy and sovereignty are anchored. We therefore advise the President to rein in his emotions when dealing with matters of state, and interact with ALL legislators in a manner befitting his stature and responsibilities. In conclusion, President Khama needs no reminder that he owes the privilege of the office he occupies to the very Parliament he holds in so much contempt.
Hon Botsalo Ntuane (BMD)
Hon Dumelang Saleshando (BCP)
Hon Isaac Mabiletsa (BNF)
