Reflection on Botswana's 55th Independence Anniversary
It's that time yet again, where I sit in my favorite spot to make a lil reflection. A lovely window seat and a morning cup of freshly brewed coffee. Unfortunately this time, I don't get inspiration from the views of the majestic St Finbarr Cathedral, but from the heavy winds and dusty roads. But hey ... you know what ... inspiration can also come from within. Right? Right!
Anyway, the 30th of September marks another milestone for Botswana as a wholly independent sovereign state. Mind you, ours is a different type of independence. The one that was obtained without a drop of blood. The one whose colonial effects are only invisible ... and as history tells, obtaining independence from being, not a colony but a protectorate. Massive difference. We've got to let that one sink in.
I'm really trying here not to go into the details of what being a former protectorate vs a former colony mean. What sort of impacts those two systems would have left in the lives of the people as well as in the land itself. All I know is that the story of the colonies, however under told, is a well told one and that the one of protectorate is both poorly and under told. Perhaps because here you deal with a different kind of curse. A story for another day.
What I really wanna say this morning is to encourage Batswana to take a step back and make a reflection of the past 55 years, and more intensely, the past 10 years. Definitely over a long period of time there's a lot to celebrate, but then over a short period of time, there's a whole lot to question. We have grown as a people. We have somewhat found our voices as individuals. We have been empowered to assess, analyse and express how we feel about the whole thing. Perhaps we are not doing it enough.
But today I wanna say, it's time we asked ourselves some of the bigger questions in life. What does it mean to be Motswana in 2021? What is the privilege of being a Motswana, citizen or resident in the year 2021? Is it what our forefathers would smile at when looking down at us?
... then let's make it more personal...
What is my duty in protecting the integrity of this beautiful land? Do I exercise that duty with the probity it deserves? and What if I don't do my part?
... then the one I dread the most...
If I do not do my duty, who will? What if I woke up one day and found strange faces in charge... Having taken over right under my nose while I was there being delusional and having failed to separate personal indulgences from the very duty that was supposed to help protect the integrity of this country?
This right here ... This very question ... brings out the paranoia in me. Worse than contacting covid virus paranoia. The question is why the paranoia ... Well, why not? No body in good standing wakes up to find their lives taken over in one night! But then he who sleeps with his house unlocked everyday will most certainly wake up one day to find themselves in an empty house, naked!........
That said, now let's go out and paint our cities and villages blue black and white. Let's go celebrate and be merry. And as we do it, let's keep in mind the wise words of:
Fatshe leno la rona ke mpho ya Modimo. Ke boswa jwa borraetsho. A le nne ka kagiso...
...and that ...
... Lefatshe le a direlwa. Le kgabisiwa ka bontle. Lefatshe le a lwelwa. Le sirelediwa ke beng ba lone.
Now, how about a little toast of the nation's favourite beer... St Louis Larger; Cheers to being blue black white; Cheers to all the good things we enjoy; Cheers to peace, love and happiness; Cheers to our leaders; Cheers to our families; Cheers to our individual selves.
#Happy55thIndependence anniversary Botswana #Pula a go ne ya medupe. Ngwaga e dike e le o monamagadi.
#BotswanaPele #TeamBW #ProudMotswana #leKoKeTswang #iAMdaRez
National Security, Defense Consultant
3 年There is much to be proud of and remember from 1966 onward as an independent nation. But corruption has long been a part of how things work regardless what Transparency International claims. The BDP needs a wake up call. Briefly, with Ian Khama in charge, it looked like the party could head for a split. But Botswana's Parliament is still controlled by a party that has done immense good for the country as a whole but has lost its way over the past decade. Comfort breeds laziness, arrogance, and, over time corruption. The juvenile spat between the whiny and clueless Masisi and his predecessor is not only petty, it is deeply embarrassing and a distraction Botswana does not need. Add to this an at least public disdain for accountability, failed approach to the pandemic and the doling out of contracts to patronage puppies and the BDP is looking less like the party that built the country and more like its neighbors in SWAPO, ZANU-PF and the ANC. Such a tragedy. As BDP officials and state bureaucrats pilfer PPE, fail to deliver elsewhere, as Masisi's government buys game lodges and ranches, Batswana become more disappointed and disillusioned with their government. The BDP's old boy network for party position and its recent disdain for Batswana must change. The first step is a post-Masisi reality. Sadly the opposition is worse than the governing party. Ke nako! For a change.....