Sechaba se tshwenyegile ke DIGANANA. Civil society warns UDC of intolerance The Botswana Substance Abuse Network (BOSASNet), DITSHWANELO – The Botswana Centre for Human Rights, Kitso Ke Matla, Makgabaneng, Marang Child Care Network, MISA Botswana and Ngamiland Council Of Non-Governmental Organisations (NCONGO) are deeply concerned about the extremely disappointing and disrespectful behaviour of some members of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) at both the memorial and funeral services of the late Gomolemo Motswaledi over the past week. Political Parties, including both the ruling party, the Botswana Democratic Party and the non-UDC opposition party, The Botswana Congress Party, had been invited to speak at both the memorial and funeral services of the late Gomolemo Motswaledi. According to the Sunday Standard (August 10-16 2014, page 2), at the Memorial Service, held at the University of Botswana (UB) Stadium on Thursday 6 August 2014, some UDC members invaded the UB Stadium ‘demanding that the BDP should not address the memorial service and a decision was made by their leadership to also exclude the BCP’. At the Funeral Service, held in Serowe on Friday 8 August 2014, Mr Dumelang Saleshando, of the BCP, was ‘advised by the family (of Motswaledi) that it was clear that there was a plan to disrupt the program if he spoke and he agreed that they should delete him from the program – a move which was later announced by the Master of Ceremonies’. The BCP leader left the funeral service ‘out of respect for the family’. As a nation, with cultures rooted in tolerance for different views (mafhoko a kgotla a mantle otlhe) based on the value concept of ‘botho’ (mutual respect for the humanness in one another), the behaviour of some members of the UDC has deeply shocked the nation. The family of the late Gomolemo Motswaledi, had appealed, to the mourners of their son, for ‘tolerance and that the death of Motswaledi should not be used to malign others and threaten the peace’ (Sunday Standard, page 2). Some UDC members chose to disrespect, not only the family of their leader, but the memory of Gomolemo Motswaledi. His was a struggle for the unity of parties and not for their divisions. That hostility was shown towards both the ruling party and an opposition party, suggests a disturbingly violent intolerance towards any party which is not a member of the UDC. We have chosen to express our serious concern at these recent developments. We recognise and appreciate the reported apology in the Botswana Guardian by UDC Spokesperson, Mr Moeti Mohwasa, on behalf of the UDC leadership stating ‘the UDC would also like to apologise to all those who might have been offended by the actions of its members during this difficult period. The leadership calls upon its members to exercise restraint’ (August 15, Page 13). We nevertheless call upon the UDC leadership to nip this potential cancer in the bud. It cannot augur well for the development of a vibrant, responsible and accountable civil society (including political parties and groupings). Civil society ought to lead by example, through respect for democracy, for the rights and dignity of individuals and groups and respect for the rights of all to express their interests and opinions, with dignity. We recognise that there is anger about the circumstances of the death of the late Gomolemo Motswaledi as well as issues relating to governance and the state of democracy in our country. What is needed is responsible civil society leadership, rooted in our Botswana values of ‘botho’ and ‘tolerance of divergent views’. What is not needed is for our nation to become vulnerable to unbridled anger. We urge Batswana to respect the freedom of expression contained in section 12 of our Constitution and to use their vote responsibly in the General Elections on 24 October 2014, aimed at the strengthening of democracy and accountability in Botswana. 19 August 2014 Gaborone
Posted on: Thu, 21 Aug 2014 09:10:52 +0000
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