Par Phil Sandick*
Botswana. Post publié(e) le 2009-09-09

On 28 March, HE President Lt. Gen. S.K.I. Khama made the following remarks in his speech to his party, the Botswana Democratic Party (the “BDP”):

“Whilst talking about discipline, let me take this opportunity to express my concern over another matter that has bothered me recently; the conduct of some of our students at the University of Botswana. One of the BDP policies is to ensure equitable distribution of this nation's wealth to its citizens. We have chosen to provide this through educating as many hardworking Batswana as possible so that they may provide for themselves and their families and the nation in the future. Our elaborate welfare programme for mothers and children, a highly subsidized health welfare programme and the very high proportion of our national budget allocated to the Ministry of Education and Skills Development further prove this commitment.

“This is why I have taken the firm stand to take action against all those students who deliberately go out of their way to disrupt these efforts. The recent disturbances caused by some of our students at the University of Botswana do nothing more than deny other Batswana an opportunity to learn. The money spent on repairs and payment of salaries to teachers who are not teaching is enough to have paid for several other students who did not get the opportunity to be admitted at the university. It is extremely selfish for those students who act in this manner and clearly irresponsible for those adults who encourage them to strike for issues as lame as the right to be allowed to receive a second sponsorship for courses they failed. I cannot allow a handful of people to destabilize a national programme intended to benefit all Batswana. As such, culprits who engage in such acts will be expelled from any institution and may be denied employment opportunities in the public sector in the future.”

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