Khama must form his own Party
There is an enduring wisdom in the decision of the founding president Sir Seretse Khama to separate royalty from politics. Politics by its nature is a game of contestation open to all and sundry but royalty is a platform of exclusive privilege reserved for a very select few. Batswana are naturally a conservative people who defer to their traditional leadership. But with the advent of politics, they have had to learn a new culture; a new and untested type of leadership. Some 53 years later into our republican constitution, this remains a work in progress! It’s amazing that our founding leaders were men and women blessed not with education, but wisdom. They were able to see beyond the obvious and tried to sidestep some of the pitfalls that littered their path. One of those was the ability to understand the concept of separation of powers! They realised that traditional leadership posed a serious threat to republicanism and in their wisdom established a separate structure known as House of Chiefs as an advisory body of the Legislature (Parliament). It was thus self-evident that one could not serve in the Executive or Legislature whilst maintaining one’s status and position as Kgosi. This also speaks to our Patriachs’ understanding of the concept of good governance. That is what Seretse Khama a legitimate Kgosi of the BaNgwato tribe did when he decided with his compatriots, to form the Botswana Democratic Party. The same was true for the legitimate Kgosi of BaNgwaketse, Kgosi Bathoen II, who abdicated his throne in favour of his son, Kgosi Seepapitso III, when he joined the opposition Botswana National Front. Dikgosi of other tribes seemed not so much interested in politics then in any case they had already been involved in the Legislative Council in the lead-up to independence. It was clear at the time as it should be clearer now, that the sanctity of Bogosi a cusodian of a people’s culture and history ought not to be defiled by politics a free for all leadership contest. But over time we have seen politics relegating Bogosi to irrelevance. Ntlo Ya Dikgosi today remains just a hollow institution with absolutely no powers! It cannot even adjudicate on Bogosi disputes let alone craft or articulate any policies that will determine our cultural identity as a nation and as individual tribal groupings. It’s a dead institution, because that was always the intention from the beginning! The initiated may as well see the wisdom in the late Dr. Kenneth Koma’s thesis ‘Chieftainship in Crisis’ and subsequent calls for a House of Representatives! This explains why dikgosi are currently showing lots of defiance towards political leadership. But we know it is an exercise in futility Politics is our current reality, we must live with it! And this means respecting the rules of its game, however oppressive, we must try to adapt. You see Kgosi Tawana Moremi of BaTawana or Kgosi Lotlamoreng II of BaRolong have been forced into politics against their will, but what have they achieved for their respective tribes? Tawana now an independent Member of Parliament is still fighting tooth and nail against the government of his former party to reclaim for his tribe Moremi Game Reserve, but it looks like a losing battle! On the other hand Lotlamoreng has been very quiet about the BaRolong Farms, which used to consitute the food basket of this country! Only Lt. Gen. Ian Khama has been the exception to the rule. He was thrust into leadeship from an early age the youngest Army Brigadier in the world; Sovereign of BaNgwato; rose to be Commander of Botswana Defense Force and ultimately sat at the pinnacle of state power, as President! As former president, he’s been thrown into a completely new territory, an alien place where he cannot operate to the best of his abilities. If he cannot be president of the BDP then he must find an alternative party. The Umbrella for Democratic Change seemed like a perfect vehicle, but the problem is it is led by Duma Boko, a native of Mahalapye in the Central District! In any case, the UDC rank and file would be incensed at the thought of Khama leading them. The only option left for Khama - which we expect him to announce this coming Saturday at the Serowe Kgotla in clear violation of those noble values that seek to preserve the sanctity of our Bogosi is to form his own party. There are quite a number of disgruntled BDP members, some of whom are bitter with the outcome of Bulela Ditswe or the party’s primary elections and want out of the BDP if only to get a chance to stand for the October general elections. Others are sworn foes of the sitting president Dr. Mokgweetsi Masisi for various reasons and would be too happy to join forces with Khama in his new party to unseat him or split the votes in favour of the opposition! There is a good chance that even some of the fence-sitting and prevaricating ministers and MPs would be emboldened by Khama’s decision if he were to defy all advice and convention to form a new party if only to spite his father’s legacy! Whatever transpires, we must thank Khama for shaping and deepening this country’s democracy. He will be remembered among the Movers and Shakers of BDP, who nudged a nation out of its slumber and dared it to take its destiny in its own hands! Just like the towering person of Dr. Kenneth Koma, who could not accept that someone else could assume the reins of leadership of the BNF and decided to form the now defucnt National Democratic Front you can be sure that Khama is also destined to repeat this history on the BDP flipside. Perhaps he should name the party, Botswana National Democratic Party (BNDP).