PHILLIMON MMESO
editors@thepatriot.co.bw
Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Eric Molale has rubbished growing allegations within the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) that he has finally made up his mind to quit politics.
Three weeks ago, Molale together with Dr Thapelo Matsheka and Member of Parliament for Mmathete/Molapowabojang Dr Edwin Dikoloti met President Mokgweetsi Masisi at State House where they requested to be dropped from cabinet in order to focus on their constituencies.
President Masisi is said to have talked them out from resigning from cabinet as it will be viewed as a sign of no confidence on his administration. Molale is said to have now made up his mind and will resign as a Member of Parliament for Goodhope/Mabule as well as from active politics in June this year. Highly placed sources have revealed that Molale is adamant that he has done his part for the country, having served in the public service for over 40 years. “He wanted to finis
ADAM PHETLHE ON SUNDAY
It may be too early to say so because elections are about three years away. But the tell-tale signs of being a one term President for His Excellency Dr M.E.K. Masisi are there for even the blind to see. The euphoria accompanied by the goodwill of Batswana en-route to the 2019 general election seems to have disappeared into thin air. And maybe permanently so unless and until the political compass is fundamentally redirected. I must say it without any fear of contradiction that a good chunk of well-wishers who pushed the goodwill are not your traditional Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) members. They are those who are voters but not aligned to any political party. Your swing voters. If we were to conduct an approval rating exercise on the President, we could be shocked to the marrow by the outcome. Those who genuinely believed the President was more than genuine and honest during campaigning have taken a sudden, yet painful 360 degree turn against him. I dealt
E seng mo go Kgosikgoloâ â not on our
kgosikgolo. At a 2019 Serowe meeting where he was favoured with ample podium time, former Lerala/Maunatlala MP and Khama supporter, Prince Maele, declared his support for Khama by stating that â
Ke eme tsi!
kgosikgolo was unshakeable.
kgosikgolo, not in the
Bogosi Act and certainly not in the national order of precedence. The current use of the term (which would mean supreme traditional leader, superior to a mere
kgosi) happens outside official sanction. Of all the eight Batswana
dikgosi who enjoy this padded cultural title, Khama, who was Botswanaâs most powerful vice president for 10 years and president for the same period, stands out for having been in a position to officialise its use. He didnât and now finds himself in the awkward position of having become comfortable with a title that doesnât officially exist.
Siphosami Malunga, Executive Director, OSISA.
It seemed too good to be true. A diamond-rich, corruption-free, democratic, prosperous, and peaceful African country with a tradition of peaceful transfer of presidential power (the incumbent president voluntarily leaves office a year before the next general election). It was.
Africa’s poster child for democracy, good governance, and transparency, for many years in the top five of the best-governed and least corrupt countries in Africa, Botswana was a good news story Africa had to hold on to. But, was it?
Paradoxes
On the face of it, Botswana is a thriving, open, competitive democracy. It has unfailingly held periodic transparent, credible, and peaceful elections – which the ruling party, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), has won since independence in 1965. It tolerates opposition and there is none of the systematic violence seen in countries like Zimbabwe and elsewhere. The country alternates its President after every two term