Botswana and its people have shown the way forward in the maturing of democracy in our region. Across what used to be known as the frontline states, the liberation movements tend to rule in perpetuity as a result of political complacency. Elections, quite frankly, had a tendency of being predetermined.
Apathy kept some of the liberators-turned-oppressors in power for decades and they became complacent. This complacency even influenced foreign policy, where governments led by liberation allies had a tendency to turn a blind eye to undemocratic practices taking root next door.
Botswana has conducted itself differently. When various countries hesitated to address the horrific situation in Zimbabwe a decade ago, including South Africa's failed quiet diplomacy policy, Botswana spoke out against the undemocratic practices there. This is what we need from different countries in terms of honest peer review.
The recent electoral developments in Botswana are therefore not surprising. Citizens have stood up to demand change, something we in South Africa can only dream of.
A complacent ruling party has been shown the door in an emphatic voice of the people not seen in that country since independence. This serves as a template that is needed in South Africa and other regional neighbours including Mozambique, Eswatini and Namibia.
Just last year, the ground-breaking relationship they established with diamond company De Beers sent shock waves across the region and ironically highlighted South Africa’s lacklustre approach to economic transformation expressed in various weak iterations of the mining charter.
There is a pressing need for sweeping changes if the citizens of this region are to enjoy true economic freedom. This is in light of debilitating poverty across the region. The poverty levels in our region are incongruent with the mineral and natural wealth that adorns all of these countries and these levels are only congruent to the death of proper visionary leadership across the continent.
Botswana therefore deserves commendation. Just last year, the ground-breaking relationship they established with diamond company De Beers sent shock waves across the region and ironically highlighted South Africa’s lacklustre approach to economic transformation expressed in various weak iterations of the mining charter.
The South African mining industry has resisted change since the introduction of the mining charter in 2003, which led to a staggering capital flight of R50bn due to concerns about a charter that aimed to place 50% of mineral wealth in the hands of black citizens.
The complacency of the political elites is also reflected in the attitude of business elites. Such a failure of leadership is what occasioned the likes of the Marikana Massacre where workers were killed for R12,000 while mining bosses paid themselves insane millions.
This is not the case in Botswana, where De Beers quickly recognised that the colonial era was over and a new deal with the people of Botswana was overdue. One hopes that the new government will consolidate these gains and foster a culture of political engagement and business accountability, both suppressed by decades of unilateral one-party rule.
Quietly the citizens of Botswana have conducted a silent revolution that many did not see coming. We say to them, mogalammakapaa!
Across the border in Mozambique, the results of recent elections are being contested by a ruling party that was not voted into power. As we have come to expect, South Africa and its Sadc comrade governments have said nothing to help resolve that situation.
Similarly, in South Africa, we have a ruling party that misunderstands a 40% electoral failure as a victory, emboldening them to pursue an illegitimate government scheme that still allows them to maintain 75% of a bloated executive. They have missed the point: the electorate has lost confidence in them.
Part of what is holding our continent back is leaders and parties that don't know when it's time to quit. They hang on to power until they are disgracefully booted out by their citizens. This way they even fail to have decent succession planning, which means the new government has to start from scratch to pick up the pieces.
Africa's development is poorer for exactly the quality of leadership that has steered it since various countries claimed independence. We have failed to truly liberate our people but succeeded in creating a new set of elites who only care about themselves. The good news is when you look at what is happening in Kenya and now Botswana there is a realisation that the people are rising up to claim what is theirs.
Wishing Botswana well as they show the way that we hopefully we will one day have the courage to follow.
Prof JJ Tabane is an adjunct professor of media studies at the University of Botswana and the editor of Leadership Magazine
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