Nkandla investigation earns SA respect.

Staff Writer | Monday December 9, 2013 15:39

Just next door in South Africa, their ombudsman, whom they call the public protector has made news by investigating and releasing a report after media reports there reported that their President Jacob Zuma may have used public funds to build himself and his family a  palace in Nkandla.

The ombudsman without being pressured by anyone, took it upon herself to investigate the matter and released a demining report that shows that the President  built the Nkandla with public money contrary to earlier assurances by the President that the luxurious home was built with family wealth. It is not the first time that the South African ombudsman has made its own independent investigations and shared it with the public, especially the media.

It also investigated media reports about the then ANC Youth League firebrand, Julius Malema's controversial tenders and  wealth accumulation in the Limpopo province. Botswana's democratic institutions such as BIDPA, Ditshwanelo, the Ombudsman, the Auditor General, the University of Botswana's Research Project, can derive inspiration and motivation from South Africa's public Protector's independent. Indeed such independent reports do not only help in giving media reports credibility but most importantly it absolves the media from the day to day bashing  from the powers that be who claim or make the public believe the media has some calculated agenda against the ruling party.

Botswana has burning issues that requires independent research and investigations, from controversial tenders and multi-billion Pula Morupule B projects, the Botswana Development Corporation(BDC), the death penalty, BDP Primaries scandals,  half baked constitutional provisions, water problem, to name a few. The days of defining democracy by general elections and kgotla meetings should be put behind us as we look up to democratic institutions to take the lead and shape our democratic society for the better.