• Opposition parties up in arms • Demand a public apology
• BDP advised to call fresh elections and not threaten ‘civil war’

BG reporter

President Ian Khama and his Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Phandu Skelemani have been accused of fuelling tribalism fires.
The accusations follow a star rally they addressed at Tsamaya village in the Tati East constituency recently following the defection of the area MP Samson Moyo Guma to the splinter Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD).
At the same rally Skelemani is reported in the local media as saying that Guma should catch the next bus to Zimbabwe, a statement that some quarters view as having serious tribal connotations and potential to sow seeds of tribalism in tranquil Botswana.
Ironically at the time the statement Guma and BDP chairman Daniel Kwelagobe were in Zimbabwe on a business trip.
At the same rally, the two government leaders are alleged to have made statements alleging threats of a civil war in the country. Responding to the statements uttered by the duo, Botswana Congress Party (BCP) Information and Publicity Secretary, Taolo Lucas, described the statements as “unfortunate”.
“It is unfortunate that leaders of their standing can utter such dangerous statements. We want to believe that as a nation we are united by our diversity.
Khama and Skelemani should be better placed to know. It is in order that Skelemani and Khama issue a public apology for the statement they have made,” said Lucas.
He said the two BDP leaders should know that tribalism has destroyed many African nations “and we as a people do not want to fall victim the same destruction. We are fully aware of the desperation of the BDP but we do not think that such should compel its leaders to act irresponsibly.
It is not only the statements in respect to Guma that are worrying. Khama’s frequent reference to the BMD as causing some kind of war in Botswana is a matter of serious concern. We believe that BMD has a right to exist and such right should not be misconstrued by the president as a declaration of war,” said Lucas.
MELS president, Themba Joina concurred with Lucas that the statement is unfortunate, especially coming from leaders in such a manner.
“We all know as a matter of fact that Botswana is a multinational country. There are Bakalanga in Botswana and Zimbabwe and Ndebeles in Botswana and Zimbabwe as well as other Tswana speaking tribes in both Botswana and Zimbabwe and other tribes in Botswana and some of our neighbouring countries. It is disturbing that the leadership of this country can start to fuel tribalism at this point of our development.
People must realise that tribalism is dangerous, retrogressive and if pursued might ruin the future of this country,” argued Joina.
He added that it would only be proper that they (Khama and Skelemani) retract their statements unequivocally and apologise to the nation.
Botswana National Front publicity secretary, Moeti Mohwasa, said it is regrettable that Khama and Skelemani uttered those statements that have the potential to divide the nation and that such remarks do not augur well for nation building. “It is important that no matter the type of differences we might have, we should not behave in a manner that has the potential to divide us as a nation. Under normal circumstances, on introspection the duo would tender a public apology but given their arrogance they would not,” said Mohwasa.
University of Botswana political science lecturer Dr Zibani Maundeni said he thinks the BDP leadership is confused by the new political developments, which they do not see as political transformation that could eventually lead to a change of government in a democracy.
“They think that the political developments are leading to a civil war. They can only lead to a civil war if we do not have political democracy or if they choose to suppress democracy.
Governments in developed democracies always collapse without leading to civil wars. The most recent is in Australia where the Prime Minister was forced to resign and the country is heading for fresh elections,” said Maundeni. He added that if the current political developments are confusing the BDP they should call for a fresh election instead of “threatening civil war”.
On the tribalism, he concurred with other commentators that the statement does not augur well for national unity. “I do not think we should take this one seriously.
It is similar to the statements that were made against Sidney Pilane alleging dual citizenship,” he noted.