22 Nov 2015

Contrary to views expressed by some that democracy has regressed in Botswana, the country continues operating in a climate of freedom, owing to the government respecting the rule of law.

These were the sentiments of the Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Mr Shaw Kgathi, while responding to the State-of-the-Nation Address in Parliament.

Mr Kgathi, who is also the Member of Parliament for Bobirwa, said the country has an independent judiciary which has ruled against the government in certain cases, with the state respecting such judgements. He added that it was a ‘classical example’ that Botswana respects the rule of law.

“We have a government that accepts losing court cases, a President who goes around the country soliciting the views of citizens in kgotla meetings, a vibrant press which freely criticises the national leadership, the unionisation of workers and opposition parties who are active participants in parliamentary committees,” Mr Kgathi said.

He said those who think Botswana’s democracy was regressing were “missing the boat.”

“Since independence we have had elections every five years, always held in a free, fair and peaceful climate, with no one ever having their right to choose their leader infringed upon,” he said.

Moreover, Mr Kgathi said that the government cares about improving the living conditions of citizens, expressing particular praise for President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama.

“President Khama came into office in 2008, around the time of the global economic downturn which affected economies such as ours.  

Although some developmental project had to be set aside due to a lack of funds, it takes a good visionary leader to ensure that civil servants would not be retrenched, that old age pensioners and the destitute would still receive their grants,” he said.

Mr Kgathi added that the government was now looking at reviving those projects that were shelved due to lack of funds, stating that the Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) would ensure that developmental projects were activated countrywide.

He said state programmes such as grants from the Gender Affairs Department, the Youth Development Fund as well as the Citizen Entreprenuership Development Agency were economically empowering people within his constituency.

Furthermore, Mr Kgathi urged politicians to respect the leadership.

“Those of us in the governing party have to respect opposition leaders such as Mr Duma Boko and Mr Ndaba Gaolathe and those in the opposition have to respect the national leadership of President Khama.  

But I have noticed a tendency among politicians, especially those in the opposition, not to respect national leaders,” Mr Kgathi said. Ends