BDP should come out clean

Mmegi Editor | Monday August 1, 2022 06:00

The BDP recently submitted to the Presidential Commission on Constitutional Review calling for inclusion of a clause that prohibits former presidents from political activism.

In its submission before the Commission, the ruling party argued former presidents should fulfil the role of being statesmen/women and as far as possible be restricted from taking up political office and formal employment.

The BDP’s position is that the government is taking good care of former presidents, therefore, they should not be engaged in such matters.

On the surface, this sounds like a good move after the country’s 56 years of independence with a Constitution that in some instances has seemingly been overtaken by events.

But, beneath, there seems to be more questions than answers to the ruling party’s proposals.

From the submissions made so far to the Commission, it is clear Batswana need changes to the Constitution. The changes they want are those that guarantee individual civil rights and liberties like freedom of speech, press, religion and association.

If the BDP’s proposed changes to the Constitution finally see light of the day, it sounds like ex-presidents will witness their rights being taken away instead of being empowered.

If ex-presidents rose to the highest office in the land through political activism, why prevent them from continuing with their first love, which is politics? That the State is taking good care of former presidents during their tenure of office and on retirement and deservingly so, should not be a ticket to take away their passion/right just because they are no longer in office.

Whether active or senile, ex-presidents are still entitled to their choice, as politics is dynamic and not static. Given the current volatile relationship between former president Ian Khama and the helmsman President Mokgweetsi Masisi, one is tempted to believe that the recommended changes to the Constitution are targeting one man, Khama.

Since his fallout with Masisi, and his aiding of the formation of the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) in 2019, Khama has been on the rampage de-campaigning the BDP that he once led and accusing it of trying to abuse him.

Khama has also been on the firing line especially after he was charged with the alleged possession of weapons of war. Khama is the founding patron of the BPF, a splinter party from the BDP, and is currently on self-imposed exile in South Africa. Recently, social media has been awash with open fights between Khama and Masisi, something that clearly threatens the sanctity of the institution of presidency. The BDP has not brought its proposals at the right time as currently Khama and Masisi are at each other’s throats. As the helmsman, President Masisi should concentrate more on the promises his party and government made to the nation and not allow petty issues to derail him.

Today's thought

“Sincerity is not to say everything you think but to mean everything you say.”

– Anonymous