Unpacking the Ian Khama enigma

I am currently enjoying a month long stay in the beautiful nation of Botswana on a programme arranged between my university,Ohio University and the University of Botswana.I am enjoying working with a number of civil society organisations and of course seeing stunning places like Kasane and the spell binding Grand Palm Hote and conference centre.I will make sure l pass through the Okavango as well before l leave.As l travel to more and more African countries,l am amazed at how beautiful the countries are and the sweetness of the people in general.Of course there is always this guy who won't just get it! Such is the complexity of humanity.

Botswana is led by one Ian Khama,the son of the great father of the nation,Sir Seretse Khama who was the independence leader in 1966. I find Khama something of an enigma. He shocked all and sundry by declaring that he did not recognize the indomitable Big Man of Africa,Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe.To the delight of many ordinary Zimbabweans,he called on SADC and AU to exert pressure to force Mugabe to accept the March 2008 Presidential elections which he lost.However,Khama got a bit too excited when he even called on nations to invade Zimbabwe and force Mugabe out.One has the sense that he maybe has a strong aversion for folks like Mugabe.What l found interesting is the sheer auacity to lambast and lampoon a President feared by his collegues yet he himself has been in power for only less than 2 years!He goes against the grain in so many ways.Born to a European mother,the man is not married and he is known to be ruthless with inefficiency and laziness in civil service.He is known to be a leader who 'gets things done'.A former Commander of the Defence Forces himself,he has no known training outside the army.

Khama has even declared that if the Sudanese dictator Omar Al Bashir sets his foot on Botswana soil,he would in an unprecedented move arrest him!He was saying that ahead of a trip by Al Bashir to Zimbabwe where he was strangely given a red carpet by Mugabe who apparently is desperate for visits by foreign leaders since he has been increasingly isolated for the past decade owing to his abrasive leadership style and controversial economic policies. As if not enough,Khama at some point withdrew from participating in the Johannesburg SADC summit in protest for what he felt was SADC dilly dallying on the Zimbabwe question.To his credit,the next summit had a more robust engagement on the Zimbabwe question.Interestingly,l would have been the last person to think that Khama would play this role of African statesman.He clearly is emerging as a lone voice in AU and SADC meeings speaking more pointedly against bad governance.Khama reminds me though of Mugabe and Mbeki.The three men have a distinct Western leaning in many ways.Khama's Tswana isn't great to say the least.Infact,as earlier stated, his mother was Western and his dad was knighted by the Queen herself.Mbeki and Mugabe are perfect Englishmen!Not that there is anything wrong about being an Englishmen;just that Mugabe and Mbeki often had very harsh words for Westen countries and their people yet their personal lives and tastes betrayed that hypocricy.These are men whose 'nature' is English though they like to lecture to everyone about being Pan African.Mugabe dresses in designer suits sometimes even to a rural political rally!

However,there are more troubling things about Khama.As a former military man,he already is showing signs of authoritarian rule which if unchecked,this can be detrimental to the health of the nation.The proposed Media Practitioners Bill has similarities with the Zimbabwean draconian media legislation AIPPA and this is a worrying sign.His tendency to take sides in his party's two factions in a way weakens the glory and respect of the Presidency.The BDP has two factions namely the Baratha-Pathi and the A-Team.Currently he is backing his sister's bid to be the Botswana Democratic Party' national chairman at the upcoming Kanye Congress.The sad thing is that his sister dismally lost for the contset to become a delegate which proves that the grassroots do not necessarily want her.Moreso he has publicly bashed current BDP chairman Daniel 'DK' Kwelagobe who is challenging his sister for the chairmanship.All things being equal,DK is poised for an easy win and its going to be interesting to see how it plays out.Khama has already indicated that he cannot work with DK if he is elected.He publicly bashes the Kwelagobe-Kedikilwe faction (Baratha Pathi) which opposes Khama's choice for Vice President.Khama has announced that the current VP,General Mompati Merafhe (A-Team) will retire and it is known that he wants to appoint his cousin,current Defence Minister Ramadeluka Seretse.DK is known to support either veteran Kedikilwe or a woman candidate yet unnamed or even himself!The fights are spilling into the public realm and if unchecked,the ruling party may lose votes owing to the in party's childish squabbling.The way Khama has handled the factionalism in his party raises more questions than answers.He doesnt seem to tolerate criticism.He also is slowly militarising government if one has to look at his appointments to date.Clearly,he wants to maintain the Seretse dynasty. This is sad.The essence of democracy is that people ought to be elected on the basis of merit and not heredity.He is unfortuanately routing for the Seretse dynasty.This will potentially cause problems.Not many people may tolerate his bypassing other veteran politicians who have served the party faithfully over the years.Should it be a crime to not be a Seretse?

Be that as it may,l see the BDP still winning the upcoming parliementary elections.Khama comes from the royal family and his fahter is still well loved.He is a chief and his policies tend to favour the poor although they may not be economically prudent in the longterm.As a Zimbabwean having seen how the 'Englishman' Mugabe has slowly militarised the country and brooked no oppostion and also carried out populist politicies,l fear for the great nation of Botswana.However,for now,the country is safe and prosperous.The air,water and land are all clean.Time will tell.

Tommorrow,l am buying a Motswana soccer team jersey and will vigorously support the Botswana national soccer team as they battle it out with Iran on Saturday.