Let's Vet Election Candidates!

(From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM)

Byline: Michael Dingake

It is becoming clear by the day, that the most lucrative business in Botswana, is political enterprise. If one is fortunate to be elected to council, one may be second time lucky to serve in the trade committee, where one will have the opportunity to manipulate business tenders to promote personal or favourites' business interests:

Should one be luckier to enter Parliament under the ticket of the ruling party, one may rise to the cabinet, where under ministerial powers vested in him/her, one will be in an envious position to direct the permanent secretary or director or head of department to look after one's interest in hard business transactions. You see, the sacred principle of conflict of interest does not arise in our domestic politics. One can be minister/councillor, business magnate, tender board member by proxy, all rolled up in one, with opportunity to award oneself juicy tenders without scruple, without …