Speaking at a rally of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) in Molepolole, 50 kilometers from the capital Gaborone on Sunday, President Khama accused a certain opposition leader whom he did not name of inciting unions to strike against the government over pay rises.

“There is a certain leader of the opposition that will be happy to see people overthrow the government. This is because the opposition is desperate and they cannot take over government through the proper channels except through inciting violence,” he said. He went on to warn the opposition that Egypt and Botswana are totally different countries.

“Here there is democracy. In Botswana we have elections and they don’t. Hosni Mubarak (ousted president) had been in power for 30 years, just like our neighbor (in Zimbabwe),” said Khama.

Khama said some remaining African despots, who refused to give up power just like Mubarak, will be removed by the people through protests when their time comes.

Source African Press Agency

African News from NetNewsPublisher.com

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“We should therefore, exercise caution in heeding calls to alter the founding document that has been the guarantor of our enviable record of political stability and socio-economic progress. In this country we are fortunate to have as our supreme law a Constitution that for nearly half a century has upheld both our human rights and responsibilities to one another,” said Khama.

He said according to the international monitoring group Freedom House, over two thirds of the countries listed as being “free”, have constitutions similar to Botswana, in which the executive derives its mandate from parliamentary election. He said about a third in the same category of nations practice first-past-the-post constituency voting, with others employing a wide variety of alternatives.

“This is not to say that our fundamental laws can never be changed, if a clear domestic consensus for such change emerges. But, let us not be misled by empty or self-serving claims that any particular electoral system which enjoys global recognition as being superior,” said Khama.

Khama’s comments come in the wake of calls by the opposition and civil society to review the country’s Constitution, especially a section within the Constitution that states that the head of state is immune from prosecution. A few years ago, Khama was dragged to court by the then secretary general of his ruling Botswana Democratic Party and the court ruled in his favor on the grounds that the head of state is protected from prosecution under the Constitution.

Source African Press Agency

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Seretse confirmed his resignation to APA on Monday but would not be drawn into discussing reasons for his resignation.

“I can confirm that I have resigned, but I am not in a position to give you details now,” he said.

Earlier this year, Minister Seretse was investigated by the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) in connection with allegations that he and his wife Sandra Salome Seretse were the directors of RFT Botswana, a major player in the defence and security industry.

RFT Botswana supplies ammunition, firearms, surveillance cameras and electronic security equipment to the security organs among them, the Botswana Police Service and the Botswana Defense Force which fall directly under Seretse’s ministry.

Source African Press Agency

African News from NetNewsPublisher.com

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In the absence of genuine partnership, it would be better for all parties to return to the people. For they are the ultimate authority to determine who should form the Government of Zimbabwe, he said.

“We supported the people of Zimbabwe towards reaching political reconciliation and economic reconstruction through the implementation of the Global Peace Agreement. I must, however, express concern at the continued failure of ZANU-PF to fully honour their spirit of the power-sharing agreement,” he said.

Khama expressed concern that it might become a trend in Africa, if not stopped, where an individual and/or a political party in order to come to power or stay in power engages in unconstitutional and undemocratic actions to achieve this.

“We have already witnessed the result in power sharing arrangements and one-man rule,” he added.

He said there could be no substitution for free, fair and credible elections, where people in any country should be allowed to elect representatives of their choice and not have them imposed on them through rigged elections, brutalizing opponents and military interventions.

Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa, Khama is the only African leader willing to speak critically of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe over his rule in the recent past.

Source African Press Agency

Net News Publisher

Echoing his succession speech in April 2008, Khama, a former military leader of his country’s army, said his administration would be anchored on a road map of four D’s — Discipline, Dignity, Democracy and Development.

Addressing multitudes in one of the capital’s poorest districts called Old Naledi on Monday, Khama said he was going to ensure that his civil servants delivered the needed public services to them.

Khama’s ruling Botswana Democratic Party cemented 40 years of power with a landslide victory in last Friday’s polls, winning 46 seats out of 56 constituencies across the country.

He stressed that development, dignity and discipline remained the tenets of his government and he was now adding a fifth D – for Delivery.

“I’m going to ensure that your leadership delivers. I have added another fifth D to the four which is Delivery. The leadership will have to serve you diligently,” he said, unwittingly adding a sixth D in Diligently.

Source African Press Agency

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How People Arrived Here:

botswana government the four d\s of president khama, khama four d, President four Ds

Sutherland argued this in court on Wednesday in a case brought before a panel of three judges that the president abused his position as leader of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) and acted in bad faith when he suspended Motswaledi from his position.

He said the president misled the nation in his statement widely carried by the state media in which he explained how he came to his decision to suspend Motswaledi from his powerful position.

He added that while Khama said he wanted party matters discussed in public, it was the president (Khama) who instructed party lawyers, Collins Newman & Co, to release a press statement to the public.

According to lawyer Sutherland, the issue of presidential immunity which states that the President of the country cannot be sued should not be applied in a blanket fashion.

The case continues to be heard in the high court sitting in Lobatse, 70 km from the capital Gaborone.

Source African Press Agency

Net News Publisher

How People Arrived Here:

Collins Newman & Co bribe OR bribery OR fraud