The Tragedy of Botho in Botswana

When I was in senior secondary school at Seepapitso Secondary School in 2011, the entire school was suspended. As our teachers exercised their labor rights by participating in the civil service strike of 2011, many students exercised their own right by protesting their teacherless classrooms. Those in power called the police, including the infamous special support group (SSG). With rubber bullets, whips, and tear gas, they launched a relentless attack against us. We were suspended and asked to return with our parents a week later (Mmegi article, Sunday Standard article). 

The school leaders and the very same parents we thought would stand by our side, preached to us about Botho—reminding us that Botswana is a peace loving nation. What right did we have to disrupt the peace in the name of fighting for our right to education? What right did the teachers and other civil servants have in disrupting our orderliness with their strike for cost-of-living-adjusted compensation and improved working conditions? The narrative then, as is always the case when anyone stands up against the injustice from those in power in Botswana, was that those who protest the status quo betray our fundamental value of Botho. 

The spirit of Botho at its core engenders justice and mutual respect for our humanity. It transcends power differentials between child and parent, employee and employer, and between government and its constituents. If an adult is being unjust to a child and the child speaks out, or talks back, the child is often labeled as lacking Botho. When an employer fails to treat its employees fairly and they unionize, the employees are labeled as troublemakers. When students strike because the government has failed to provide teachers, they are assaulted with the full force of the state. 

Should the child not speak out against the unjust parent in the name of Botho? Should the union worker not protest the unjust employer in the name of Botho? Should the students not strike for education in the name of Botho? What about a nation with high unemployment and no living wage even for the employed? Should they not stand up against the selfishness of a President who wants to improve his already generous retirement package? 

We recently saw it in Kenya (Wikipedia article). Where the injustice of a government that failed to address the needs of the citizenry but wanted to take more money out of their pockets was shut down by the people. They took to the streets, some laying down their lives for justice. The government retreated and while that will not heal the wounds of the injured nor resurrect those who gave their lives, justice prevailed. Not resigned indifference, nor silent frustration, but active resistance is what brought about the justice.

But not in Botswana. Here we are a peace loving nation. We do not want to lack Botho. So while our public systems fail and those in power continue to enrich themselves, we will stay silent. Even during an election year, the time we could really teach these self-interested politicians a lesson, we are going to do nothing. President Masisi is going to get his retirement package for himself and his family. They won’t need to worry about the unemployment nor the failing education system nor the struggling healthcare system. The retirement package would guarantee they are well taken care of. 

At least we will have our Botho. You know what, that is fine because we get the government we deserve. If we are not going to hold our leaders in parliament accountable for prioritizing the needs of the country, especially during an election year by getting the leaders to speak against this proposed bill as part of their election campaign, then we deserve to have a deteriorating country. And if you do not stand up for justice, then you truly lack Botho because there is no Botho without justice.