There is a scripture in the Bible, Acts 3:6, that teaches about the story of a lame man who couldn’t walk. This man always stood by the gate of the Temple asking for alms (money, food, or similar items given to the poor as a charitable act). It so happened that one day Apostles Peter and John encountered this man and given his reliance on almsgiving, he expected something from them. But Apostle Peter said to him, “Silver or gold have I none, but what I have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!” Taking him by the right hand, Peter helped him up, and at once the man’s feet and ankles were strengthened. With that Biblical introductory statement, I wish to draw my attention to Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi. As I write this, Venson-Moitoi is in the Rwandan capital Kigali for the African Union’s 32nd Ordinary Session. Unlike many who are there enjoying their imprest and perdium, Venson-Moitoi’s nervousness is beyond measure. Luckily I hear she doesn’t smoke cigarettes, otherwise she would be busy wasting out her lungs with endless puffs. Venson-Moitoi has put up her name for election into the Chairmanship of the African Union Commission, seeking to replace South Africa’s Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma who is stepping down. It’s not easy for our lady. While this will not be the first time she enters an election, given the many times she has competed in our general elections, this time around the odds are stacked against her.
Here is an ambitious woman from an obscure country seeking to become the prefect of an organization tasked with managing the affairs of the whole continent. It takes the heart and guts to aspire for such a position. I admire Venson-Moitoi. Women of her tenacity and self-belief are a real turn-on. She must have sat down and said to herself, ‘’If Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma did it why I can’t I did it”. As Batswana, we need to give Venson-Moitoi all the support she may need in her endeavour. Venson-Moitoi’s win will be a win for our country. Her ascendance to AUC chairmanship will immensely enhance our country’s image in Africa and the world at large. This is the time when we should all put our political and personal differences aside and come together in support of Venson-Moitoi as a Motswana. She needs our assistance. Those who have enough money to spare must contribute to her campaign. Those who are closer to God must place her in their daily prayers. Those who are gifted in motivational talk must prop her up and inject more confidence in her. The influential must use their allies to sway votes to her direction. She has all it takes to achieve it. It is so disheartening to see how the going is getting tougher for her not because other African countries doubt her capabilities but simply because they have lost faith in her principal, President Ian Khama. Venson-Moitoi recently told journalists in South Africa that she believes leaders should be held accountable and responsible for their actions. It is against this backdrop that I hold President Khama accountable for Venson-Moitoi’s seemingly tough fight for the African Union chairmanship. Khama as her principal should be at the forefront of her campaign but given his disdain for the AU and his detachment from other African leaders, he is finding it difficult to now coerce his counterparts to vote for Venson-Moitoi. Khama never attends AU meetings where he has the opportunity to advice his counterparts, face-to-face, but he is always quick to cowardicely condemn them in the comfort of his space in Gaborone. Given his attitude towards his counterparts, it should not be an insult to say they probably feel our president ‘’wa phapha”.
How then do we honestly expect them to listen to him now when he asks for their support on Venson-Moitoi’s behalf? Yes, Venson-Moitoi was so damn right to tell those journalists that Khama is not the country. That he is not Botswana. Unfortunately it is going to be very difficult to detach Khama’s attitude from Botswana, the country. Khama is the face and voice of Botswana. His commissions and omissions are a reflection of this nation’s attitude. The summit is on-going in Kigali and currently there is uncertainty over whether elections may be postponed. Some in the AU are reported to believe that none of the candidates will be able to garner a two-thirds majority of the vote. According to sources, a number of influential Africans approached the AUC arguing that the submission process should be re-opened in order to accept new candidates of a higher calibre. It is an insult for those ‘influential Africans’ to place venson-Moitoi in the category of lower calibre. That however should not deter her. Trust me, Africans have no qualms with her credentials. They have a problem with President Khama who has never shied away from shooting down AU and his fellow African leaders with sheer recklessness. Venson-Moitoi is just guilty by association. Anyway, this piece was just meant to pledge my support. I have thought long and hard on how I can come to the party. I am broke and as such I cannot be of any financial assistance to Venson-Moitoi. I do not have any connections with any of the African leaders who will be casting their votes in Kigali. I am also of little faith. In fact on several occasions I find myself believing in God only when it suits given circumstances. It is in helpless circumstances such as this one of Venson-Moitoi that I look up to God for divine intervention.
To Venson-Moitoi I therefore say, silver or gold have I none, but what I have I do give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, receive the strength to carry on with the fight no matter the obstacles and challenges. I believe in you as much as you believe in yourself. You can do it. You will do it. You deserve it.
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