This piece dear reader discusses why traditional leaders or chiefs should not engage in active partisan politics. It also focuses on the dangers that are bound to occur when a traditional leader engages in partisan politics. Mid-Week Sun 10th November 2011 quoted, Hon Mokgweetsi Masisi as having said “It is within government to take any action it deems proper and in the public interest, including dethroning any Kgosi that does not toe the line”. “Infect should such a Kgosi be seen to be frustrating government business, causing public chaos and rendering the country un-governable the state will not flinch, the most punitive action to derecognize him’. Masisi made these remarks at a Kgotla meeting in Gerald Estate in Francistown. Masisi Went on to say “The State wields power to derecognize any traditional leader regardless of his/her status, that is whether he became chief by birth or was elected to the house of chiefs”.
In rebutting Masisi’s statement I wrote an opinion piece titled “Taming the Botswana State and Reforming the Chieftaincy Institution 21st November 2011, Sunday Standard. And I wrote……
“Whilst Masisi’s boastful remarks about the state’s overwhelming power do hold, his other remarks however, need to be taken seriously and challenged. Masisi is not the only one. Other leaders have irresponsibly joined the hate crusade against some Dikgosi and have deliberately misled the nation by portraying themselves as the good ones and fuelling hate behind the curtains. Acting like cowards they talk from the periphery rather than face those Dikgosi head on in their own backyard. Acting like cowards they make noise like street bullies from a distance rather than engaging the Morafe and show Botho le Tlotla and hear what their worries and concerns are. Their fashion statement is we are a republic and that nobody is above the law, forgetting that some of them are wearing two hats trading as politicians and Kgosi contrary to constitutional provisions. The hate, the desperation and the deliberate hoodwinking of the nation by feeding it with false propaganda is not only unfortunate but it is also disgusting”. That was then. Peace and reconciliation now reign supreme.
The hatchet has now been buried. But at least Sissy Boy must be applauded for coming out instead of BEHAVING like a ME NICE, who gatecrashes events under false pretenses that they are sympathetic to the events that happened in the past. Many politicians are narcissists. Narcissists are arrogant, self-important, see themselves as special, require excessive admiration, have a sense of entitlement, and are exploitative. If it looks like a duck and sounds like a duck, it’s probably a duck. This constellation of narcissistic attributes causes them to believe that they are right and, even if they are not, they are too smart to be caught or suffer the consequences. In other words, they believe their own. Every politician knows that the key to winning elections is to make great promises.
Campaigners promise to cure the ills of society including fighting corruption and, maladministration if elected, they will bring about vast improvements in education, employment, infrastructure, and the economy. The opposition political leaders must be cautioned to avoid fielding political tsotsis with a history of being involved in washa-washa ponzi schemes, alleged ex-convicts, village idiots with delusions of grandeur. Otherwise they stand to lose BIG in their so called strongholds in 2019. The opposition political leaders MUST keep away from the ME NICE ATTITUDE, gatecrashing tribal meetings addressed by their Kings. It is more worrisome when they do not make proper and formal arrangements with the tribal offices so that they can be accorded the respect they deserve at meetings addressed by Kgosi Kgolo. It irritates more when such high esteemed political leaders rock-up late to such meetings just because they have been hoodwinked by some tribal monk, a political aspirant claiming to wield some level of authority.
They must learn to assess the situation first and must not use tribal meetings as a form of political campaign to gain mileage. They must understand fully the character of some of their own who aspire to stand for political office and in some instances they may not be aware that they are dealing with thugs; tsotsi’s who go around boasting about having previously committed murder and that they still have the potential to commit the same crime. The thugs who claim that they hold some position of authority going to every radio station and print media claiming that they are representatives of some tribal regiment and spokespersons of the Royal Family when they know that they are not. They are actually telling a lie. Should the political leaders continue being misled by these tsotsis then they should know that they will lose credibility and integrity.
THEY MUST disassociate themselves from these wanna be political aspirants, who live in a world of fantasy. If they do not heed to this advice they stand to lose BIG. Again if they have interest in attending such meetings addressed by Kgosi Kgolo in the future it is ONLY proper that they show RESPECT, have their office make the necessary arrangements, come well on time, follow and observe tribal protocol. The role of traditional leaders in modern Africa, especially in modern African democracies is complex and multifaceted. The debate is defined by “traditionalists” and “modernists.” Traditionalists regard Africa’s traditional chiefs and elders as the true representatives of their people; accessible, respected, and legitimate, and therefore still essential to politics on the continent. “Modernists,” by contrast, view traditional authority as a gerontocratic, chauvinistic, authoritarian and increasingly irrelevant form of rule that is antithetical to democracy.
But politicians and political leaders clearly know these and they are fully aware of the power Dikgosi wield and would do everything in their own interest to hoodwink Dikgosi that they are with them and that they care for them only when it suits them. In recent times some traditional leaders/chiefs in Botswana have pledged their support and openly declared their affiliation to political parties. This is against the constitution of the Republic.
These and many others dominate our political discourse. I condemn such attitude by our highly respected chiefs. Although the laws of Botswana allow its citizens to participate in politics, traditional leaders/rulers who are symbols of unity in their jurisdiction should not engage in active partisan politics. If such a leader participates in partisan politics it undermines that unique position and brings division in the community because people may oppose their party. Engaging in partisan politics will undermine the confidence and independence of them in the dispensation of their judicial functions. Traditional leaders play a vital role in the development of their community. They also serve as a link between governments, non-governmental organizations and their people. When traditional leaders openly declare their support to a party and that party does not win elections it will hinder the rate of development in the locality.
Traditional leaders who meddle in partisan politics are often faced with challenges in the administration of people who belong to different political parties. Dikgosi should exercise their political right but should have in mind that they have a responsibility to protect the dignity of Bogosi by remaining neutral in political activities. Governments have a fixed tenure of office but traditional leaders do not, hence they should not be lured by appetizing offers and gifts by politicians to openly declare their support for them. Traditional rulers should remain neutral in politics and must be prepared to work with any government to ensure national development and safeguard the unity peace and security in their communities.