Panellists punch holes into BDP rule…
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The ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) panellist at a roundtable organised by the University of Botswana’s Democracy Research Project, Lawrence Ookeditse was forced to be on the defensive and declared that “the current government is a victim of its own success” and it was being judged unfairly by some in the society.
Panellists were scrutinising the state of affairs of Botswana’s democracy and the level of development in the country. Ookeditse was the only soul veneering against the stance that the country is on a trance of rearward regression. Botswana Congress Party (BCP) President, Dumelang Saleshando did not show up and so was the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) representative.
The jumbled panel featuring print journalist, Spencer Mogapi; University of Botswana czar of Political Science, Professor Balesi Tsie; BDP activist, Ookeditse; as well as trade union federation, Botswana Federation of Public Sector Unions (BOFEPUSU) President, Johannes Tshukudu sketched a gloomy picture of the country’s stance and prospects on a myriad topics ranging from the state of affairs in public education, national fiscal deportment, democracy as well as government control over state media, among others.
Defending the status quo, Ookeditse pointed out that Botswana is on the right path as it continues to attract favourable rankings in the region and Africa on aspects of human development, the economy, human rights and democracy. He cautioned that people should be aware that the state media’s purpose is for nation building and held firm that it is doing its job well.
He said while Khama has not addressed the UB academia and the media broadly, he has chosen a more functional approach to engage the populace. However he conceded that a lot can still be done to make Botswana more prosperous.
“The BDP government is the only government in the world that has not downsized its workforce despite advice from the International Monetary Fund,” he said. Ookeditse is convinced that the BDP will still win the 2019 general election.
UB political science lecturer, Professor Tsie poked holes on the many fronts of the country’s picture perfect façade outing it as a smokescreen concealing an increasingly dysfunctional government. He signalled to Botswana’s position as the fourth largest unequal society in the world trailing industrialising and developing BRICs economies with millions of people in population despite Botswana having a small population of just over 2 million.
Tsie also alluded to the country’s failed economic diversification drive which he contends should have long been executed when the country was still experiencing unfettered steady economic growth. He further argued the economy’s continuous hinge on minerals and mineral extraction leaves the country riskily liable to global economic unrest as circumstanced by the 2008 economic recession.
The UB Don further brought the forgotten debate of old to the fore, questioning and probing Setswana’s quasi-arbitral elevation to status of national language over other languages in a republic state, continuing to state that cultural minorities in the country are not fully recognised.
Tsie lampooned the Parliament of Botswana as a weak oversight institution, “There is a serious democratic deficit in parliament of Botswana and it is very weak, in fact far weaker than the Independent Electoral Commission.”
This, he attributed to the principle of collective responsibility as government ministers and assistant ministers are drawn from the executive wing of state concluding that for that reason parliament of Botswana finds itself not mirroring the plight and prospects of the nation.
Tsie also poured scorn on the constitutionally engrained selection of Specially Elected Members of Parliament and nominated councillors as undemocratic as it bears the hallmarks and trappings of political patronisation.
For his part, BOFEPUSU boss, Johannes Tshukudu held the viewpoint of Botswana as a regressing nation; positing that the country has a populace not well conversant with political education. He said the educated city and town dwellers represent a tiny fraction of the country’s educated and politically conscious section, a prospect he is convinced spells doom for participatory democracy and progression.
Tshukudu also observed that there is a thick air of intolerance hung in the corridors of state power as responses to national issues by the country’s political leadership is often met with fiery personalised retorts. He went on to say that while the country’s civic society lacks political consciousness, its Non-Governmental Organisations are also hamstrung by their monetary links to government thus failing to accurately execute their roles of providing oversight duty to government.
Private media journalist and columnist Spencer Mogapi attributed the country’s dwindling fortunes to being lost in the nostalgia of the national success of yester years, describing it as being “hostages of our own history.”
Mogapi who chided Vice President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s perceived ignorance on the latest national unemployment figures said that it becomes hard for Batswana to embrace and assist the BDP in developing the nation while the popularised Ntuane reforms are aimed at saving the party and not the country.
He also ridiculed the government for glorifying poverty by shelling handouts when it could have long cut poverty when the country was experiencing unfettered economic growth adding that it is difficult to see the results of the P500 million pumped into poverty eradication.
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Serame defies Masisi on “No Protests”
In a bold move, the Minister of Finance has disregarded the edict of Botswana Democratic Party’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi, who warned against primary election protests due to the tight timeline leading up to the October general elections.
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Archives preserves governance- Rakgare
Deputy Permanent Secretary, Library Archives, Arts and Culture at the Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture Tebogo Mabebesi said Botswana as a proud member of the International Council on Archives (ICA) commemorates the International Archives. Since 2015, the country has observed this significant day chosen to honor the establishment of ICA in 1948 under the UNESCO auspices.
Mabebesi further indicated that ICA remains dedicated to the effective management of records, preservation, care and use of the world’s archival heritage. This year, the celebration was extended for a week, embracing a longer period of archives vital role.
“The commemoration of International Archives Day serves several crucial purposes. It raises public awareness about records and archives, highlighting their role in underpinning rights and identity, emphasizing decision makers the necessity of proper records management for good governance and development as well as stressing the importance of management, collection, preservation and long-term use of archives.”
Mabebesi said the say promotes the unique, extraordinary and rear documents used in archival institutions to the broader public. “The day also enhances the global visibility and image of records and archives.”
When unpacking the 2024 theme, Cyber Archives, Mabebesi stressed that it addresses the ongoing conversation about the impact of technological advancement on the records and archival sector.
“By harnessing the power of data, and embracing the emerging technologies, archives empower societies in the rapidly developing landscapes, they playing a crucial role in promoting democracy and supporting human rights.”
When speaking at the commemoration, Minister of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture Tumiso Rakgare acknowledged private institutions, associations, NGOs, families and individuals who have answered to the plea of government of Botswana of requesting donations of private archives.
“These private archives are experiences, memories and evidence of existence of other sector other than the government. When public archives and private archives are put together, they surely give a holistic picture of the history of Botswana. We wish to urge all Batswana to contribute to the collection of their history by donating their archives.”
Rakgare commended the International Council on Archives (ICA) for the guidance towards proper records and archives management practices and standards. “They have developed standards; code of ethics and they also offer capacity building sessions to archivists and records managers to harness their skills in the profession.”
“This is a special day that we are part of as Botswana. This asserts our obligation and commitment as a country to have an impeccable management of archives and records in public and private sectors. The commemoration further assists us to reflect on the importance of archives in good governance, administrative transparency, democratic accountability and further create awareness among the general populace including the decision makers on the significance of records and archives especially in this complex modern society,” he said.
Rakgare unpacked the them, saying the 5th Industrial Revolution is near and it is evident in every corner of the world. “We feel the weight and impact of the vent by looking at the theme. It is a perfect fit into government’s Agenda of Digital Transformation. It goes without saying that the ICA has availed yet another opportunity to us to contextualize the theme and see how we are advancing in the global market in our pursuit for human development- prosperity for all in Botswana National Strategy.”
The youth minister alluded to the fact that Cyber Archives is not new at all, adding that it has been an ongoing conversation for a while in the public discourse. Records and Archival Management professionals, organizations and aligned sectors have been battling about how technological advancements are impacting the sector.
“By harnessing the power of data and embracing emerging technologies, archives empower societies to make informed decisions, foster transparency and preserve cultural heritage. In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, archives play a multifaceted role in securing a future that promotes democracy, protects citizen rights and enhances the quality of life,” he said.
Meanwhile, the ICA was formed seventy-six years ago under the auspices of UNESCO. It is an international non-governmental organization whose purpose is to promote the effective management of records and archives, their collection, preservation and use.
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Protect yourself from Spear phishing and Smishing
You may have heard of the term Phishing which is a form of social engineering and a scam where attackers deceive people into revealing sensitive information or installing malware such as viruses, worms, adware, or ransomware. There are however other forms of phishing which are just as deceitful such as Spear phishing and Smishing.
Spear phishing emails have a more targeted, personal feel to them. It is addressed to the recipient specifically and seems to come from legitimate sources, such as your bank, your insurance company or a legal firm. This is where information attained from social media platforms come into play. A sense of urgency and pending doom (a potential fine for inaction, account lockouts, increased interest rates etc) could entice users to action emails. Often, a request for card or account login information is worked into the theme of the email.
In much the same way, social engineers will call you, and armed with a few well-chosen names or phrases they pretend to be from your bank, eager to help you with a potential account problem you did not even know existed. Vishing is the term assigned to this form of ‘voice phishing’. These guys will often speak your language and are exceptionally friendly and helpful. It is their aim to gain your trust.
Another form of phishing attack is via text messages, and has been annotated the term Smishing (SMS Phishing). It is imperative that you do not entertain unsolicited emails, texts or conversations, especially where your payment card- or personal banking information is involved.
Having said this, it is not all “doom and gloom”. As users of social media, the internet and multiple devices it requires of us to be vigilant and alert. The battle begins with each of us being knowledgeable and ensuring that we stay up to date with the latest trends in the field of cybercrime.
To reiterate, never share any of the information typically required to do online transactions. This include the full card number, the card expiration date and the CVV number. You are encouraged to rather contact the bank via the contact centre or the branch to confirm if there really is a problem with their account.
When receiving an email or a voice note, do not allow yourself to be drawn into emotional urgency to act on it without confirming its legitimacy.
Due to diverse technological inventions, criminals have found more cunning ways to deceive us and access our funds. You can help prevent phishing scams by starting to be mindful of being mindful of the information that you share. Let us all be mindful of what we share on social media, think before you post.