Former Presidents Sir Ketumile Masire and Festus Mogae are the talk of the town.
Each one of them has become the butt of political jokes; Masire for recently going on state television whereupon he asked government to consider state funding of political parties and Mogae for calling on the state to provide condoms in prisons as well as consider legalizing homosexuality.
Before he retired in April 2008, Masire had been President of Botswana for 18 solid years. He holds the record of being Botswana’s longest serving president, the current term limit of ten years having been introduced during his time.
For his part Mogae was President from 1998 to 2008.
Botswana is one of the countries in Africa where the President is very powerful.
The position derives his position not just from the constitution but also an array of statutes and documents.
So, when Masire said it was time Botswana introduced the funding of state parties, many people naturally jumped and asked why he had not done it during his long rein when he had both the power and authority to do it?
It may also be added that it was also during Masire’s time that Botswana’s economy was at its strongest.
As for Mogae, the man has been holding what amounts to circuit lectures basically saying he is sympathetic to the ideas of legalizing homosexuality and also providing condoms in prison.
Again critics and detractors have been quick to ask “why now, why did he not do it during his ten years as president when he wielded the executive authority and the power of state apparatus to enable him to do it?””
All these are legitimate concerns.
But it is a bit unfair to go on as to accuse these two statesmen of dishonesty or disingenuousness as some have been quick to do.
While the debates of political party funding and homosexuality are by no means new in our public discourse, the fact of the matter is that, like all of us, both Masire and Mogae change their views with time.
As a renowned British economist, Maynard Keynes once observed “when circumstances change, I also change my position, don’t you”?
In fact, rather than questioning the sincerity of Masire and Mogae we should as a nation embrace the debate and be grateful that in their small ways the two men are actually enriching the debates.
It’s possible that Masire did not want to introduce political party funding on the advice and out of fear that it could lead to him or his party losing power.
But now free from the shackles of such fears and concerns its possible he has come around to the idea that far from being a bad thing such reforms would actually enhance and entrench democracy.
It is possible that Mogae spurned all calls for his government to legalise homosexuality because at the time he felt it was reprehensible but has since soothed to the idea.
Questioning the motives of these two leaders does not only contaminate the debate, it also polarises it.
The end result is that it clouds each other’s views leading to shutting each other out.
That cannot be helpful in a democracy.
What we need is a culture of debate where each and every citizen who so feels would say out their mind without fears of having their motives questioned.
As it is Botswana is at cross roads. There are a number of issues that are on the table for public debate.
Over and above those picked by Masire and Mogae, we need to debate issues pertaining to Constitutional reforms, electoral reforms, the power of the presidency and, last but not least, the economic direction and challenges that we face as a result of the new world order.
