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11/1/1991 - Diamonds and democracy in Botswana by Casey C. Kelso

Diamonds democracy Botswana Casey C Kelso Amex Cardholder Manica Travel Services P O Box Gaborone Botswana Nov Mr Peter Bird Martin Executive Director Institute Current World Affairs West Wheelock Street Hanover NH 03755 Dear Peter Five years newly arrived Peace Corps volunteer West African village braying donkeys awake night Their hoarse wrenching cries sounded group slowly asphyxiating asthma sufferers trying scream That disturbance seemed culture shock I first foreign Now I Africa landing Botswana capital Gaborone I experiencing different cultural shock It exotic The alarms local people fancy early morning hours After hours country following exhausting flight I asleep hotel outskirts Gaborone piercing wails alarm after another Where familiar donkeys That first country unlike other I visited travels African continent Botswana appears prosperous booming Mercedes Toyotas whizzing along congested roads beneath rapidly rising skyscrapers under construction Many outsiders Europeans Africans other Southern African countries repeated characterization appeared recently Newsweek It Kuwait Black Africa Averaging percent GNP growth Botswana amassed billion about US billion reserve qualifies country economic miracle Africa With economy grown mining diamonds Botswana society breathing space absent other African countries allow democratic society flourish The supports vigorous press Case Kelso Fellow Institute studying societies political systems economies Southern Africa Since Institute Current World Affairs Crane Rogers Foundation provided fellowships enable outstanding young adults outside United States write about intemational areas issues Endowed bythelateCharlesR Crane theInstituteisalsosupportedbycontributionsfromlike mindedindividualsand foundations private weekly newspapers vying readership along government owned daily newspaper radio station In addition there history traditional consensus taking Botswana chiefs called kotla gathering where everyone chance speak their before decision taken That tradition still strong Most proposed governmental programs presented grassroots kgotlas around country being perceived legitimate The invention freedom square public debates during colonial struggle 1950s continued Botswana people forum where tribal constraints topics apply where spirited discussions differences between ruling opposition parties Passionate speeches indignant hecklers seemed normal rallies I attended Most Batswana I strongly believe honesty corruption other African countries But economic horizon darkens blowing there signs civil liberties fragile Botswana I decided resembles young yuppies generation United States This country booming economically celebration success government spending spree credit cards The elite urban citizens about their prosperity conspicuous consumption American businessmen dream about nowadays And upwardly mobile friends Botswana liberal trumpeting wonders market economy vocal about democracy liable become quite conservative financial pinch The right labor union strike freedom press seriously report government policy ability citizens politically active called question national strike T wouldn pessimistic I arrived month earlier before general strike government employed manual laborers across country nation Gaborone paralyzed In before walkout I admired construction going around Buildings going every street corner appeared Dump trucks earth movers backhoes rolled traffic government enclave where state ministries housed alongside foreign embassies Detour signs major eries diverted steady stream around numerous widening projects The chaotic capital looked heaven where civil engineers Then Monday morning familiar swarm workers overalls missing It first nationwide strike history Botswana In sewers backed start seasonal rains leaving lakes smelling water covering lanes downtown streets This meant I berth traffic getting drenched spray speeding charging headlong through Was sabotage public works employees before going strike Other pedestrians ourselves wondered aloud rumor Garbage collected outside buildings downtown snowdrifts occasionally tumbling scattering across sidewalks Like refuse collectors construction missing leaving trenches skeletons metal sticking poured concrete Labor union officials government reneged agreement increase wages after months negotiations threatened strike became inevitable talks collapsed The union demanded percent increase wages month about US almost US justified massive their market basket research average government laborer spends family The union workers claimed their wages below minimum living No public response government point The I talked first action optimistic strike would successful spoke exercising their democratic right their tools They government brought strike ministers themselves almost salaries shortly before general percent raise The government response strike Fire Every worker absent place The government justified drastic action stating strike illegal because contract union promised maintain essential services garbage collection during strike ample notice impending walkout provide labor orderly essential plant The strike judged illegal state because union should submitted dispute arbitration commissioner labor appointed government questionable neutrality A trade union allows commissioner replace union leaders appointees cancel registration trade union violating constitution representatives monitor almost union meetings Trad unions effectively barred representing employee challenges dismissal Under dismissed employees ceased union members There appeared exhilaration faces crowd several thousand women gathered outside Botswana Federation Trade Unions building fourth strike Some strikers mostly younger began outside union The Zulu dance Americans television footage protests South Africa menacing rhythmic prancing hypnotic effect observers appeared dancers The crowd militant As Bobble Jo I walked through lunch restaurant union office passed young dressed outfits walking around pairs We hundred milling around aimlessly looking stores rrying small plastic sacks I asked soccer match He smiled indulgently amused would village idiot walked The union African Mall large commercial complex strewn trash those garbage appeared litter vengeance civil disobedience Rounding corner union headquarters thicker concentration sweat pants jackets about hundred athletes sitting orderly green military trucks More redcoats circled strikers never clashed After having lunch university professor across union I broached subject Just those athletic looking lounging around nearby They BDF Botswana Defense Force soldiers replied professor They wearing their football warmups avoid stirring crowd everybody knows around Our party paused awkwardly outside professor On protestors other soldier sports talked quietly before apparent message relayed portable radio think going union leaders right I professor feigning jaunty hardened American journalist attitude I We looked agitated masses soldiers solemnly other That wouldn smart right replied sideways ready exercise another You white noticed people walking building Why Now At least workers detained later released police Most taken custody connection sabotage One worker reportedly switched electrical generator hospital while others water people towns rural towns Machudi Maun Kanye The Special Support Group rougher group police deployed batons mobilized Their green Land Rovers could again again circling around Gaborone We waited enough government attend grievances Johnson Motshwarakgole secretary National Amalgamated Local Central Government Parastatal Workers Union We exhausted possible communication channels In I emphasize members strike But rather government which strike refusing discussion matter Now I wanted I quoted Motshwarakgole exactly Botswana people ingrained tendency discussion democracy Notice rebuttal against government officials weren talking which serious society The kqotla tradition Botswana society demands points heard Patrick Molutsi sociology professor university Botswana shifted uncomfortably chair office I began lauding traditional democratic culture Botswana Like others Molutsi views kgotla basis democracy pattern gives citizens illusion input For kqotla still means public support decisions already political elite The chief would consult advisors before kotla consensus present community decision Ordinary citizens never struggles behind scenes determine politics never organize influence politicians Most expect leaders speak voice shake As result lobbying government issue policy Nor government groups politicized people knocking their office doors Students nurses unions supposed political Molutsi They supposed neutral People aware become policing political avoid having government Molutsi speculated government cracked union because perception opposition party Botswana National Front strike Molutsi should about democracy He director Democracy Research Project group begun largely funded foreign donors seminars workshops democracy Rather simply monitoring level debate issuing warnings about democracy project jumped consulting politicians about making bureaucracy responsive wishes those elected office Molutsi chiefs people illusion participation decision already agreed entrenched civil service dominates policy making Botswana presents elected officials already decisions ratify Many civil servants Re elected ministers parliament interfering decision making While election parliament requires candidate write English politicians intimidated superior education civil servants Influential permanent secretaries drafted because members parliament lacked technical expertise although change younger better educated politicians When Bobble Jo I obtained preliminary proposed national development economist ministry finance warned there would changes Umm changes asked Bobbie Jo prides herself being extreme accurate journalist Will debates parliament reflect those changes The economist frowned shrugged shoulders unsure explain complexity clearly beyond these newcomers No parliament already approved But committees civil servants working budget That example civil servants final nation direction years bureaucratic dominance dating colonial administration Democracy begins elected officials simply rubberstamp civil service version future The National Development Plan VII drafted civil servants haggled ministries squared struggle bigger slice financial parliament nominal approval before inter ministerial committees whole budget again final decisions housing drought relief conservation rural development The whole debate secret outside public unless proposals through gauntlet nationwide kotla meetings until officially published January The problem educate people about their rights motivate fight those rights which democracy about I spent evening filled cheap emotion rural British writer lived Southern Africa almost years As strongly opinionated living Botswana African decade failed single glimmer light future country It critical impediments proper democracy sipped beers quickly gathering gloom following brilliant sunset There strands They outspoken kqotla other speak elsewhere That people greed Who going Even strikers fired having gambled appear ready violent No protest Only workers march through downtown jamming noontime traffic under watchful police without Eventually dispersed Confusion anger seemed dominant feeling crowd Sitting under after sacked group women worked cleaning government buildings began about strike Roughly translating words Setswana Botswana language spoken majority population English afterwards women group When government continue rights people country Batswana supposed rights All women confessed hungry money They laugh however another protest pointed Who mission We rights Who refuse rights It Lieutenant General Merafhe General Merafhe witch these industrial classes Merafhe witch Mompati Merafhe minister Presidential Affairs Public Administration arguably powerful Botswana He control running country police force military The title lieutenant general honorary since Merafhe resigned position after being appointed cabinet years president As would lieutenant general afternoon Bobble Jo I British military engineer worked Merafhe during years There wouldn Botswana Defense Force without But mistake Put obstacle remove He power hungry That different typical Botswana around Merafhe directly parliament session stripe American couple wanted about glancing watch every minutes while answered questions When asked about strike narrowed slightly never showed emotion I think would gross irresponsibility conceded something shifting large frame restlessly They wanted percent after percent raise The finance ministry saying going extra million industrial class workers If agreed there government could around private business could lesser minimum All small companies would business The would devalued And become oductivity labor country Those facts On Monday following labor action union workers reclaiming their Many workers bitter wanted continue strike their after reapplying their positions Merafhe however decided employees forfeit their previous benefits hired The workers percent increase received worse before making entry level starting salaries For example cleaning woman named Emily swept block government guest flats where stayed increases She making month although worked years With three children support smaller paycheck Emily seemed dazed sweep floor Monday The heavy handed government handled strike Catholic Justice Peace Commission which spoke first domestic bread butter issue economic justice Heretofore Catholics noise about legislation concerning ability Botswana doctors perform abortions These manual workers essential running nation civil servants states letter editors private newspapers It shame latter privileged should harshly those privileged There public criticisms public debate about merits increase During newspaper coverage strike government Daily News single story three sentences reprinting government dismissal notice verbatim No further interviews conducted single person named there background people strike And following strike police detectives Serious Crimes Squad ransacked offices private newspaper reprinted internal government marked secret The document outlined reasons wages industrial class employees could raised contained nothing Merafhe later justifying refusal grant increase The newspaper secret document however government angry If private journalist report anything excellency President Masire Paul Rantao mayor Gaborone As member opposition party feels locked political system Rantao bitter His excellency smiling today excellency having lunch today excellency appeared Rantao mocked falsetto voice imitating Radio Botswana announcers Rantao speak convincingly about restrictions freedom press As young state journalist writing Daily News Radio Botswa The ruling party other African state It ridicule block other parties returning angry voice It monopolizes media information radio It couldn allow union leaders explain themselves There total blackout I concerned totalitarian At bottom democracy apparent If using subhuman yardstick third world yardstick might democracy But multi party democracy Rantao party Botswana National Front majority capital council During strike council voted rescind government action dismiss managed workers called government retract firing He other BNF councilors elected because their party stron urban areas while campaigning rural areas could millions pulas travel rally rally On other existence sharply critical opposition indicate multiparty democracy alive least Gaborone Rantao sounds soccer excitedly cites previous election results gathering momentum opposition In Botswana Democratic Party percent Botswana National Front In BDP versus BNF In election score If elections rigged BNF strong showing balloting What lacking attitude opposition government waiting loudly waving The BDP ourselves potential government themselves potential opposition That democracy What worries Rantao Molutsi others coming economic That strike about The union leaders recognized better wages economy never would The democratic image Botswana presents international community attracted foreign investment which makes democracy possible When income diamonds dwindles however democratic freedom known Botswana dissipate competition rougher slice economic Botswana remains dependent selling prices diamonds which could collapse western countries continue toward recession In diamonds brought percent total revenues US billion The total amount foreign revenue earned diamonds dropped percent compared percent annual increase enjoyed seven years For first since Botswana predicted spending deficit llion pulas proposed budget The disturbing development which appears marked turning point economic fortunes Botswana decline export earnings diamonds acknowledged Bank Botswana report And diamond production plateau nowhere All district councils country where local projects approved government ensure construction completed projects before projects began The funds infrastructure rural villages under title targeted subsidies meaning projects funds Development democracy could become urban phenomenon Despite diamond financed rural development programs there widening between urban rural Over decades government provided primary secondary education efficient health system water That progress significantly improved rural people standard living But other figures rural incomes continued since 1970s One study showed income poorest percent declined quarter As incomes countryside people pushing their cities search Something wrong Ben Raseroka biology professor University Botswana befriended first arrived Gaborone bursting The roads narrow water pipes Something wrong You something wrong roads jammed Gaborone handful capital cities world built scratch Like Washington Brasilia Bangkok there never village before urban planners began laying streets The capital Botswana moved Mafikeng which capital called independent South African homeland Bophuthatswana Botswana planned capacity people But decade nation largest population double By million people expected living urban areas about million rural areas turning rural based society Most Gaborone urbanized villages being gobbled metropole fashioned dependency theory neatly applying situation Out peaceful village Mogoditshane outskirts Gaborone where Bobble Jo I stayed ramshackle hotel population jumped whopping percent about people years And times government going overextended loans Remember I about yuppies charging their cards limit All those purchased interest loans state employees eight percentage points below commercial secured government But those loans The government employs about third formal force country about people civil servants workers parastatals teachers If those people advantage generous credit scheme accounts thousands Then there housing program Essentially government gives loans government employees homes Under liberalization allowance diverted credit materials labor needed build If enough government urban elite there Financial Assistance Program If businessman wants start company could launch Botswana international comme government salaries workers years Those loans should practice majority Sitting outside patio expensive hotel Gaborone I raised question government older Botswana Both level senior servants department ministry local government lands while other permanent secretary affairs ministry before retired about years Now haired quite stouter friends became fiery talked about their dissatisfaction civil servant whose existence depends repayable government There dedication these because these younger never themselves university education former affairs bureaucrat It handed So decide knock early Friday And someone village comes waiting hours cares Both raise cattle rural areas dabble construction making enough money Both agreed rougher economic times would teach younger generation serious about working harder If expect something nothing other A government shame They could percent eventually money returned But Despite government subsidized spending money start business commercial sector Botswana remains Almost everything bought toothpaste furniture clothing imported South Africa Swamped South African manufactured goods there markets domestic production compete without state subsidies Botswana produces domestic demand maize wheat Without healthy account these imports there would serious state strike Curiously enough people I talked about Botswana future democracy general hopeful True actively involved deportation several foreign journalists As fierce critic private press Merafhe warned government would allow stability society disturbed abusive reporters writing critical essays Local disgruntled journalists style general strong could dangerous threat media independence And other critics raise valid questions about Merafhe build Botswana Defense Force despite lessening tensions South Africa Consuming approximately percent current national budget military spend million pulas build Kalahari desert investment officially frowned Bank Botswana I admit growing importance person defense force Botswana makes uncomfortably aware easily intervenes political other African nations And I economic malaise often motive But Merafhe adamant military possible running Botswana government If would illegal basis I Africa today military regimes I economy under military regimes The question worth answering Another I found hopeful unpopularity fellow civil servants Merafhe dedication those retired senior civil servants mourn generation political leaders The general publicly accused fellow civil servants leavi early Fridays month drive their cattle ranches One recent Friday afternoon passed several senior bureaucrats while driving Gaborone appointment north country calculated knocked earlier traveled I minister public service I responsible conduct public officers Merafhe explained Therefore I occasionally speak because I really country going bankrupt It question Merafhe Botswana unique experiences Africa Sincerely Received Hanover