I don’t understand this. Botswana is supposed to be a secular state, at least on paper. In other words, our constitution does not force us to be Christians, Muslims, or any of the religions available. Our constitution recognizes and appreciates that our nation is also made up of people who don’t give a hoot about religion. Atheists are part of this nation.
While our constitution embraces us all, regardless of our religious beliefs, our government is bent on imposing Christianity on all of us. We are all forced to adhere to Christian values and ways of life. Look, I subscribe to Christianity but I hate it when my religion is forced on to other people who do not follow it and do not believe in it. Why should everyone be subjected to the Christian way of life when our constitution allows us to be who we want to be, follow what we want to follow and believe what we want to believe?
I know I risk being crucified for this one but the truth is, in our country, the Constitution is more supreme than the Bible. It therefore baffles the mind why our government chooses to ignore the dictates of the constitution and instead force us the teachings of the Bible.
Why am I saying all these about Christianity? Well, the festive season is once again here. This is the time when we take a breather from our hectic days at work. This is the time, apparently, to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and the ushering in of the New Year. Christians believe Jesus was born on Christmas day. Atheists take that theory as pure crap. Other religions do not celebrate the birth of Jesus on Christmas day. Now if our government genuinely embraces both Christians and other religions and atheists, why is it that government is hell bent on imposing Christianity on atheists and non Christians? Let’s take a look at the hours of operation for businesses during Christmas. While it is during Christmas time that a lot of us have free time to drink, eat and be merry, our government forces us to either sleep or go to church. This is crazy. On a normal working day, government forces night clubs to close at 12midnight even as some of the patrons have to report for work in the morning. Meanwhile, during Christmas holidays, when most of us are on break from work and can afford to dance and drink all night, the government forces places of entertainment to close at 10pm.On some days liquor outlets are not allowed to trade at all. The government restricts us on how we should spend our spare time and our money. I am of the feeling it is during times like the festive season that our government should allow us to spend our leisure time anyhow and anywhere we want. I still don’t understand why we claim to have night clubs in Botswana when the truth is, government has relegated what used to be night clubs into mere bar extensions. Is it not silly that government closes bars at 10pm and expects night clubs to close in the next two hours?
In Botswana we know very well that people go to night clubs only after bars shut doors and this therefore leaves night clubs with only two hours of actual time of business. The sad part is, even after our overzealous law enforcement officers close down night clubs at midnight, people do not go to their homes. They loiter around and outside night clubs in the parking lot where bootlegged alcohol is sold willy-nilly. Unlike inside night clubs where security is guaranteed, people who drink from the parking lot are exposed to all sorts of danger like robbers, rapists and some people who become nuisance after imbibing.
It so unfortunate that we find ourselves having to lead lives as dictated by our president’s life style. Our president doesn’t drink alcohol and has never seen the inside of a night club. It is an open secret that the Liquor Act of 2008 was introduced as a way to almost ban alcohol and night life in Botswana simply because our president doesn’t take kindly to the consumption of alcohol.
It is painful that the whole nation finds itself having to abide the liquor regulations that have the interests of one man at heart. Look, I’m not even advocating for reckless drinking. All I’m saying is, just as government allows churches to operate 24 hours, 7 days a week, let the same privilege be extended to night clubs so that we can have the freedom to choose where we want to spend our free time. Christians derive pleasure and satisfaction form all night prayer, so why not allow some of our people who derive joy from dancing all night at entertainment spots the same privilege?
