Comments on: The nonsensical boycott of the SADC meeting by Botswana http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/sentletsediakanyo/2008/08/16/the-nonsensical-boycott-of-the-sadc-meeting-by-botswana/ Sun, 12 Feb 2012 10:41:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Alan in Botswana http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/sentletsediakanyo/2008/08/16/the-nonsensical-boycott-of-the-sadc-meeting-by-botswana/comment-page-3/#comment-54050 Alan in Botswana Fri, 12 Sep 2008 06:45:30 +0000 http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/sentletsediakanyo/2008/08/16/the-nonsensical-boycott-of-the-sadc-meeting-by-botswana/#comment-54050 Thanks Lyndall, Now a little lesson. A singular person from Botswana is referred to as a Motswana. The plural of this is Batswana, and the main language is Setswana. Bilal: Come on, you don't seriously want us to copy America's fiscal policies do you? We would have bankrupt long ago and the poor would be considerably worse off than they are now. Thanks Lyndall,
Now a little lesson. A singular person from Botswana is referred to as a Motswana. The plural of this is Batswana, and the main language is Setswana.
Bilal: Come on, you don’t seriously want us to copy America’s fiscal policies do you? We would have bankrupt long ago and the poor would be considerably worse off than they are now.

]]> By: Lyndall Beddy http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/sentletsediakanyo/2008/08/16/the-nonsensical-boycott-of-the-sadc-meeting-by-botswana/comment-page-3/#comment-53912 Lyndall Beddy Thu, 11 Sep 2008 11:45:05 +0000 http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/sentletsediakanyo/2008/08/16/the-nonsensical-boycott-of-the-sadc-meeting-by-botswana/#comment-53912 Alan in Botswana We leave Bilal to you to deal with. I suspect him of having a vested interest, and not being Botswanan anyhow. Too much "sour grapes" in his comments. Alan in Botswana

We leave Bilal to you to deal with. I suspect him of having a vested interest, and not being Botswanan anyhow. Too much “sour grapes” in his comments.

]]> By: Alan in Botswana http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/sentletsediakanyo/2008/08/16/the-nonsensical-boycott-of-the-sadc-meeting-by-botswana/comment-page-2/#comment-53863 Alan in Botswana Thu, 11 Sep 2008 06:54:44 +0000 http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/sentletsediakanyo/2008/08/16/the-nonsensical-boycott-of-the-sadc-meeting-by-botswana/#comment-53863 Bilal Much of what you say is true. Too many people live in poverty in Botswana. However, I think your argument about cash being too volatile does not ring true. If you had invested a million Pula into virtually any stock market in the world one year ago; today it would be worth considerably less. If you had put that same million Pula into an interest earning account, you would be much better off. The fact that we have not spent all of our foreign reserves sets us apart from other failed African states. When times get really tough, we will have enough reserves to cushion the effects of recession. I would be interested to hear what you suggest the government do with the reserves to help alleviate poverty, that they aren't already doing. Bilal
Much of what you say is true. Too many people live in poverty in Botswana.
However, I think your argument about cash being too volatile does not ring true. If you had invested a million Pula into virtually any stock market in the world one year ago; today it would be worth considerably less. If you had put that same million Pula into an interest earning account, you would be much better off. The fact that we have not spent all of our foreign reserves sets us apart from other failed African states. When times get really tough, we will have enough reserves to cushion the effects of recession.
I would be interested to hear what you suggest the government do with the reserves to help alleviate poverty, that they aren’t already doing.

]]> By: Bilal http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/sentletsediakanyo/2008/08/16/the-nonsensical-boycott-of-the-sadc-meeting-by-botswana/comment-page-2/#comment-53741 Bilal Wed, 10 Sep 2008 12:04:34 +0000 http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/sentletsediakanyo/2008/08/16/the-nonsensical-boycott-of-the-sadc-meeting-by-botswana/#comment-53741 Lyndall Beddy & Alan Please lack of ability to manage Foreign Reserves is the reason why Botswana has such a huge amount in Foreign Reserves while many(a third) Batswana wallow in poverty. Or you want to tell me that America-bein the world's super economy were not wise to keep an import cover of two months? Any company/or country that keeps so much cash just shows lack of investment creativity...as cash is never a good investment as shown by the huge fall in foreign reserves during the Sep 11. Cash is too volatile. Lyndall Beddy & Alan
Please lack of ability to manage Foreign Reserves is the reason why Botswana has such a huge amount in Foreign Reserves while many(a third) Batswana wallow in poverty. Or you want to tell me that America-bein the world’s super economy were not wise to keep an import cover of two months?
Any company/or country that keeps so much cash just shows lack of investment creativity…as cash is never a good investment as shown by the huge fall in foreign reserves during the Sep 11. Cash is too volatile.

]]> By: Lyndall Beddy http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/sentletsediakanyo/2008/08/16/the-nonsensical-boycott-of-the-sadc-meeting-by-botswana/comment-page-2/#comment-53288 Lyndall Beddy Tue, 09 Sep 2008 05:48:41 +0000 http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/sentletsediakanyo/2008/08/16/the-nonsensical-boycott-of-the-sadc-meeting-by-botswana/#comment-53288 Alan in Botswana THAT is my point - they started out with MUCH less than SA or Zimbabwe - look how well they have done! Alan in Botswana

THAT is my point – they started out with MUCH less than SA or Zimbabwe – look how well they have done!

]]> By: Alan in Botswana http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/sentletsediakanyo/2008/08/16/the-nonsensical-boycott-of-the-sadc-meeting-by-botswana/comment-page-2/#comment-53059 Alan in Botswana Mon, 08 Sep 2008 08:41:41 +0000 http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/sentletsediakanyo/2008/08/16/the-nonsensical-boycott-of-the-sadc-meeting-by-botswana/#comment-53059 Lyndall Landlocked yes. But small and not very rich? Same size as France or Texas and one of the highest per capita ratio's of foreign reserves in the world, comparable to the likes of Saudi Arabia. 24 months of import coverage, compared to Zimbabwe 45 minutes, Zambia 2 days, America 2 months. Lyndall

Landlocked yes. But small and not very rich? Same size as France or Texas and one of the highest per capita ratio’s of foreign reserves in the world, comparable to the likes of Saudi Arabia. 24 months of import coverage, compared to Zimbabwe 45 minutes, Zambia 2 days, America 2 months.

]]> By: Lyndall Beddy http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/sentletsediakanyo/2008/08/16/the-nonsensical-boycott-of-the-sadc-meeting-by-botswana/comment-page-2/#comment-52983 Lyndall Beddy Sun, 07 Sep 2008 17:45:15 +0000 http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/sentletsediakanyo/2008/08/16/the-nonsensical-boycott-of-the-sadc-meeting-by-botswana/#comment-52983 Alan in Botswana I always vote for the opposition - just to strenghten democracy. However I might just vote for the main party if I was in Botswana, just because they have done so well - in such a small, landlocked, and not very rich, country. Alan in Botswana

I always vote for the opposition – just to strenghten democracy. However I might just vote for the main party if I was in Botswana, just because they have done so well – in such a small, landlocked, and not very rich, country.

]]> By: Alan in Botswana http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/sentletsediakanyo/2008/08/16/the-nonsensical-boycott-of-the-sadc-meeting-by-botswana/comment-page-2/#comment-52682 Alan in Botswana Fri, 05 Sep 2008 06:15:55 +0000 http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/sentletsediakanyo/2008/08/16/the-nonsensical-boycott-of-the-sadc-meeting-by-botswana/#comment-52682 Lyndall - Yes, and the fact that we are mineral rich and relatively honest. Our mineral income has been well managed and for the most part honestly accounted for. Our infrastructure is second to none in Africa and our crime rates are small compared with others in the region. Bilal - Despite the imperfections in the automatic succession route, we have always had a good president and a good government. I long for the day when a credible opposition presents itself as a viable alternative to the BD Unfortunately in my lifetime that has never happened. Nonetheless, I will continue to vote for the opposition in the hope of giving it strength. Lyndall – Yes, and the fact that we are mineral rich and relatively honest. Our mineral income has been well managed and for the most part honestly accounted for. Our infrastructure is second to none in Africa and our crime rates are small compared with others in the region.
Bilal – Despite the imperfections in the automatic succession route, we have always had a good president and a good government. I long for the day when a credible opposition presents itself as a viable alternative to the BD Unfortunately in my lifetime that has never happened. Nonetheless, I will continue to vote for the opposition in the hope of giving it strength.

]]> By: Lyndall Beddy http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/sentletsediakanyo/2008/08/16/the-nonsensical-boycott-of-the-sadc-meeting-by-botswana/comment-page-2/#comment-52537 Lyndall Beddy Thu, 04 Sep 2008 09:25:48 +0000 http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/sentletsediakanyo/2008/08/16/the-nonsensical-boycott-of-the-sadc-meeting-by-botswana/#comment-52537 Alan Maybe the reason Botswana is doing so well, and Lesotho and Swzailand so badly, is that the Khamas were always democrats - and also only have had one wife for 4 generations! The people matter more than the Chief! Alan

Maybe the reason Botswana is doing so well, and Lesotho and Swzailand so badly, is that the Khamas were always democrats – and also only have had one wife for 4 generations! The people matter more than the Chief!

]]> By: Bilal http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/sentletsediakanyo/2008/08/16/the-nonsensical-boycott-of-the-sadc-meeting-by-botswana/comment-page-2/#comment-52524 Bilal Thu, 04 Sep 2008 08:02:32 +0000 http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/sentletsediakanyo/2008/08/16/the-nonsensical-boycott-of-the-sadc-meeting-by-botswana/#comment-52524 Lyndall I thought ANC elected JZ as its president at Polokwane. My gripe, Ian Khama was never elected, but chosen or hand picked by Festus Mogae. The difference between the system used by ANC and the ruling party in Botswana is that the President of the ANC is elected by his party but in Botswana one becomes the President of the country then automatically the president of the ruling party, and it is strange that this arrangement only applies to the ruling party. The constitution of the BDP[Botswana Democratic Party] clearly states that when it is in power its President is not elected at party level but is the state president. This arrangement is very undemocratic! Khama landed this position of presidency because Mogae liked him, not BDP members! Lyndall
I thought ANC elected JZ as its president at Polokwane. My gripe, Ian Khama was never elected, but chosen or hand picked by Festus Mogae.
The difference between the system used by ANC and the ruling party in Botswana is that the President of the ANC is elected by his party but in Botswana one becomes the President of the country then automatically the president of the ruling party, and it is strange that this arrangement only applies to the ruling party. The constitution of the BDP[Botswana Democratic Party] clearly states that when it is in power its President is not elected at party level but is the state president. This arrangement is very undemocratic!
Khama landed this position of presidency because Mogae liked him, not BDP members!

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