The human spirit, in its quietest moments, does not need any reminding of these words: “If a nation values anything more than freedom, it will lose its freedom: and the irony of it is that if it is comfort or money that it values more, it will lose that, too.”
Indeed one of the ideals that our forefathers had sought to live for and guarantee, is the idea that every citizen should be free to express their views even if such views differ from what others may perceive, and still be satisfied that no one, not even those in authority, will punish them somehow, in the open on in a subtle fashion. For a while, successive Governments in Botswana nourished this idea, even though no one can ever claim they achieved it to perfection. But the people of Botswana understood that freedom for our people is something that we collectively cherished, and hoped to keep working on and perfecting. We were united in this belief.
In recent times, the current BDP-led regime, through its actions and statements has precipitated alarm that our country is regressing and that our people’s freedoms are being stolen. Mr Outsa Mokone, a pristinely investigative and prize winning editor of Botswana’s elite newspaper, the Sunday Standard, was not only charged with an archaic sedition law, but was unlawfully detained by agents programmed to treat our most talented citizens as enemies. This is the direction that Botswana is headed towards ÔÇô a state run by a close-knit group of friends protected and navigated through by a few within the intelligence services. There is hope. Finally the people of Botswana are beginning to see the current leaders for what they are, and they are also beginning to understand that no one will descend from the heavens to rescue us as a people. Our people have started to realize that the responsibility to free Botswana and begin a fresh page for a nation that nurtures the talents of its own people and brings out the best in its people is ours and ours alone as a people. The people of Botswana must unite and speak in one voice on 24 October 2014.
Ndaba Gaolathe Secretary General, UDC
