It is now common knowledge that President Ian Khama was recruited into politics on his own terms, which are ridiculous, of course.
Yet it seems unusual to recruit highly successful people into politics because they no longer need politics to prop up their projects. Politics is for the beginners and opportunists. It has become a vocation for failed pop stars and those who failed their driving tests on countless occasions and nurse hopes that they would use their political influence to get the driving licenses.
It is for those who believe that they can easily graduate from being mere lorry drivers into political celebrities on account of being praise poets and repositories of flattery. It has been transformed from a career for courageous men and women wishing to liberate the oppressed people and fighting to end state sponsored impoverishment of our people. It is now fool tics, a political set where imagination and intellectualism are superseded by feckless opportunism, silliness and greed. It is for every Tom and Dick, educated and uneducated, famous and nameless, wicked and sinful. It is free for all.
After all, anyone can make a promise, thoughtful or brainless. It is therefore unusual to recruit people into a vocation that promises everything to everyone, from power to wealth and all.
Naturally, people should be desirous of partaking in politics of their own free will. It is strange therefore that President Khama was recruited into a game that is not short of qualified applicants, especially when some willing and experienced people were overlooked in preference for an unwilling narcissist. What then is so special about President Khama? In order to convince him to leave his plum and prized job as commander of the Botswana Defense Force (BDF), Khama was asked to make a wish list. He was thus allowed to assemble his own support staff and he handpicked them from within the BDF.
Bravo the big chief. Immediately after being sworn in as the Vice President of the Republic of Botswana and before he could commence work, Khama got himself an unprecedented sabbatical leave perhaps to go see animals and get to the gym unrestrained by office work. He further demanded and was permitted to spearhead the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) electioneering accompanied by public officers. Long life King Khama! Khama was allowed, against the law, to pilot the BDF helicopters to any place of his choice, accompanied by any one he chooses. It has since become common knowledge that Botswana laws do not apply to King Khama. He is above the law, period. For the first time in the history of Botswana politics, a Cabinet position for Minister without portfolio was created for the Special One, making him a de facto Prime Minister with unrestrained powers to bark instructions at his Cabinet colleagues. Then in April 2008 Khama became the fourth person to reside at the modest but posh State House. But before he could move in, the house had to be renewed to give it a modern face, a tasty face lift that would fit well with the taste buds and preferences of most celebrities. Admittedly, the complex was going to need to be renovated at some stage in the future but that couldn’t wait any longer once the Special One assumed the presidency. The work has to be fast tracked at exorbitant costs, as huge as to permit the construction of a mini State House in my home village of Bobonong (and I would have preferred this option).
Speculation is that the delays in completing the renovations and the accompanying huge costs are a result of enhanced hi-tech security features to secure the safety of the incumbent. This alongside the reported plans to clear out residential units in the vicinity of the State House, and you come to appreciate that ours is a Special President who has over the years developed a sense of entitlement that makes him think that he should always get special treatment.
Alongside the massive renewal of the State House, the Office of the President clandestinely purchased a luxury caravan for exclusive use by President Khama. When defending the purchase of this mobile house, Minister Ramadeluka Seretse explained that it will minimize flying back and forth by the President, yet this flying back and forth is Khama’s favorite hobby, especially when he is in the cockpit; so the Minister’s reasoning is hogwash.
In line with President Khama’s lavish lifestyle, a new presidential jet has been purchased at astronomical costs. The Minister also disclosed that the provision of a mobile State House together with a number of vehicles (presumably specialized) has always been a benefit accruing to the President. Oops! Did past Botswana Presidents miss out on a luxurious outdoor life? Was this information withheld from them or were they merely living modestly? What other benefits and privileges are in store for President Khama that former office bearers missed out? Former office bearers have not enjoyed so much spoiling from the state.
This remains a mystery that baffles a lot of people and may tempt many to take aim at Khama and enjoy the silly rebuttals from his petty lackeys. Glory be to King Khama. Is it not a strange occurrence that the State House has to be renewed on the eve of Khama’s presidency? Is it not a strange occurrence that a mobile State House should be procured for a President during Khama’s rule? Is it not a strange occurrence that a new presidential jet has to be sourced at the onset of Khama’s reign? Is it not a strange occurrence that the Directorate of Intelligence and Security Services, whose functions, among others, include the provision of enhanced security for the President and his family, has to come into effect on the day Khama was sworn in as President? Is it not strange that a new fleet of presidential guard vehicles has to be procured in readiness of Khama’s rule?
Are we going to have to institute costly changes every ten years to satisfy the egos of some selfish new presidents who want to create their own image and legacy? Would our small economy cope or was it a one off feasting for the big Chief? Is it not strange that the government is unwilling to bail out mining companies yet more than willing and able to spoil the president? Certainly a precedent has been set which is that President Khama can get whatever he wants, lawfully or unconventionally. Yes, he is like a special kid, very superior with exaggerated self-worth, abilities and unrealistically high expectations; a vanity with excessive love for attention, excessive drive to set himself apart from his predecessors and the rest of us by deeds and misdeeds. He is so determined to do everything differently from his predecessors even if it invites controversy or does not add any value. He just wants to be different in a way that makes him unique, stylish and special. All in all, it can be said that he looks inventive but is rather manipulative.
He is the Special One with an over-forcefulness aimed at dominating and correcting others whose lifestyles and views he deems unrefined. But excessive egotism that is based on the belief that one’s lifestyle and overall view of life is perfect normally breed what psychologists call severe personality dysfunction, a condition that causes its carriers to think that they have extraordinary skills, abilities and wisdom. Obviously, by virtue of being the state President, President Khama is a very, very important person and rightfully deserves tender care. But it is wrong to treat him as if he has a disability or as if he has supernatural powers.
The President is widely known for his strong personality and, therefore, he does not need special treatment because he can and has survived gigantic odds. The special treatment that the state so often extends to President Khama is likely to develop into a full blown spoiled child syndrome as President Khama continues to get everything he wants and keeps wanting more without appreciating what has been done and or given to him. In future when circumstances do not permit the state to cave into Khama’s lavish wishes, things might get nasty when he feels betrayed and rejected. If President Khama was recruited into politics against his will, that is his problem and the public should not be held at ransom by endless compromises designed to make him happy and stay longer.
It is unacceptable to give President Khama special treatment for his problem to get into politics and it is entirely wrong for him to blame others for his decision to join politics, it was his choice and if he has made a mistake, he should blame himself and not take the country hostage. If he ever threatened to walk away if he does not get his wishes, it is grossly wrong to hang onto him by assuring him that his wishes shall be granted at all times.
It is wrong and unacceptable to have a president who thrives on being pampered for that would ultimately breed greed and unparalleled arrogance with severe repercussions for the future of our country, in particular, our economy and politics in general.
Perhaps our last slim hope is for one of the opposition political parties or the civil society organizations to write a formal complaint and request to the Office of the Ombudsman (our miserable public protector) to probe the unlimited expenditure on President Khama’s lavish life style even if nothing would be done when investigations reveal that the President is living beyond his means.
The tax payer has a right to know whether the country’s resources are not being squandered.
