Welcome Guma, the stage is set

| Tuesday July 9, 2013 00:00

Among the positions that were contested for was that of the chairmanship between Minister of Education and Skills Development Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi and backbencher Guma Samson Moyo. The latter won the position with a margin of 65 votes.The loser Venson-Moitoi welcomed the defeat and pledged to work with Moyo and other party members in preparations for 2014 and beyond. That's what democracy is all about - elections are held, and when you win or lose, you embrace your opponent. You do not treat him/her like she is your enemy, instead you engage them for future endeavours that will benefit the entire society.

We hope this spirit will  prevail across all political parties in the country, as well as individuals in those parties.The election of Moyo can be a blessing to this nation in that he is a former assistant minister, former Chairperson of the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC), former opposition MP and now backbencher. Most importantly, Guma is from the so-called minority tribes in Botswana.He has got a wealth of experience that the ruling party needs as it formulates laws and policies. He is an independent thinker who has differed with his colleagues in the ruling party, and at the Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) during his short stay in opposition politics.

Of course each individual has got his or her dark side, and therefore we would be naive to believe, or try to portray Guma as a saint. We will leave this part to the public to do its own judgment on the man and choose where to place him. Our position is that his experience in all the aforementioned positions presents him an opportunity to think broadly and give guidance where it is needed. He comes at a time when the public sector seems demoralised, when the Head of State's hatred for the private media is at its worst, and when poor planning in the past has resulted in serious shortage of water and electricity, traffic congestion that disrupts productivity and economic growth among others.

It is our hope that those who voted for this man did it because they had confidence in him and his vision for the country.  We hope that in the near future we are going to watch the Btv news bulletin read in Sekgalagadi, Sekalanga, Sesubiya, Setswapong, and other minority languages.The same should go to the national radio station. That's just a hint of the things that can be achieved, but the nation has been made to believe they are impossible!

                                  Today's thought'When you do not know what you are doing and what you are doing is the best -- that is inspiration.'

                                   - Robert Bresson