Boko fans take umbrage at intense probity, scrutiny

To his credit, President Advocate Duma Boko has on numerous occasions particularly after assuming office, insisted that he and other leaders must be subjected to relentless probity and scrutiny. The obvious reason is to keep him and other leaders in constant check lest they ignore the core mandate why they are in those positions. Some of his supporters viciously take umbrage at the idea of anyone daring to question him on any issue and in the process, displaying high levels of political intolerance. The very supporters would have been some of the harshest critics of Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) not so long ago after conveniently failing to appreciate that the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) is in government and crucially that all attention should be focused on it. By the President insisting that he must be sharply probed at every turn, he acknowledges that he promised Batswana heaven on earth and as he puts it, he dares not to fail to deliver. To him, failure is not an option but will be tragic and catastrophic. It will be an unpardonable betrayal. There is a lot at stake for the President regard being had for his second term. If he performs in the next five years in terms of bettering the socio-economic circumstances of Batswana and other attendant issues, he stands a good chance of securing a relatively easy second term. The converse is true! The President is fully aware that he was voted by the lowest popular vote (37%) in the history of Botswana’s political history. This means 67% of Batswana did not vote for him. It is incumbent for him to eat into the 67% in order to boost his popular vote for the 2029 general election. 

In his first 100 days into his presidency, he has faced a plethora of questions such as to why his party increased exponentially, the number of Specially Elected Councillors; why he appointed the Chief Justice in a manner he has consistently criticised while in the opposition (the argument is that he lost an opportunity to render the appointment transparent and competitive since the law does not prescribe how such appointment should be carried out). The President has also been heavily criticised for his bloated cabinet. The list is endless. 

Those who take umbrage at the President’s intense probity and scrutiny will be freely reminded that they should not look far back into history but in the last five years of former President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s presidency when his supporters did not take kindly to his criticism the result of which he did as he pleased. As fate would have it, the very blind followers of Masisi are now crying foul that he caused them the 2024 general election. Some of them are even hurling a series of profanities at him. 

No serious democracy worth its salt functions without intense probity and scrutiny of its leaders because it is this probity that gives birth to accountable and ethical leadership. The President must be applauded for opening himself up to sharp criticism. His supporters will do well to put pressure on him to deliver job opportunities, improve health and education sectors, come up with sustainable interventions to tackle GBV and so on. Trying to put a ring of steel around the President over national issues is not only counterproductive but erodes the very fabric of social cohesion and national dialogue. 

I am prepared to be persuaded otherwise as always. Judge for Yourself! 

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