USA/Africa Dialogue, No 434: Update on Botswana's Lecturer

Forwarded below for your information is my personal response to a letter
sent to me earlier this week by Dr. Ian Taylor, along with his original
communication. The article in the Scotsman by Savimbi's former
spin-doctor, Fred Bridgland, is incidentally posted online at:

http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=207392005

-----Original Message-----
From: Jeff F. Ramsay
Sent: 26 February 2005 13:25
To: 'Ian Taylor'
Subject: RE: Kenneth Good

Dear Dr. Taylor

Just to let you know that I received your email (below), as well as the
other e-mailed articles and comments you have been so kindly forwarding
to me all week. As you should know by now the matter of Dr. Good's
deportation is before the High Court. As I have already informed your
friend at the BBC, and others, it would therefore be inappropriate for
me to comment on the matter as it is sub judice.

In the above context, I can only observe that your conviction that the
deportation order is the result of your seminar paper is quite
presumptuous. My own honest academic opinion, by the way, is that in the
paper you and your colleague have merely regurgitated a litany of
opinions and innuendos culled from our local tabloids, hardly
earthshaking stuff.

I am, moreover, surprised that you, as a supposed scholar of
international relations, believe that I or anyone else in this
Government should be overly concerned about your ongoing efforts to
mobilise external opinion against us. We are a sovereign nation whose
relations with the global community are predicated on well rooted norms
of mutual respect. Just as we do not seek to interfere when others
deport third party nationals from their jurisdictions, we expect them to
refrain from undue interference when and if we exercise our own lawful
governing authority. To put it mildly after four decades of
post-colonial democratic development, we do not require outside
prefects.

By the way I had already seen the article in the Scotsman you sent me,
which I note is authored by the late Jonas Savimbi's one time
spin-doctor, Fred Bridgland. Given his recent cheerleading on behalf of
Survival International, I fully expected that he would join the rest of
Steve Corey's media chorus this week.

At any rate, I notice that in the said article Bridgland cites you and
your colleague in making a number of rather extraordinary claims. For me
the passage that really takes the haggis is the following:

"Until a few months ago, Mr Khama was head of the 10,000-strong Botswana
Defence Force. He was appointed to parliament by Mr Mogae without an
election and elevated to vice-president without any consultation of
parliament. Under the Botswana constitution the vice-president
automatically becomes president when the president steps down, which Mr
Mogae plans to do by 2007."

It seems to me that even a tabloid political alchemist should be aware
of the following basic facts:

*        That our Vice President retired from the military seven years
ago;

*      That he has since been elected to Parliament in his own
constituency on three separate occasions;

*       That he has, in accordance with our constitution, also been
endorsed by a vote of the entire Parliament for the position of Vice
President on three occasions, most recently last November, following his
party's victory in the General Election; and

*    That our Constitution currently mandates that our State
President can serve up to ten years in Office (i.e. if he is re-elected
and does not lose control of Parliament through a vote of no
confidence), meaning that President Mogae can remain as the Head of
State until April 2008, which, as he has publicly said on numerous
occasions, is his intention.

Yours faithfully,

Dr. Jeff Ramsay
Press Secretary to the President

-----Original Message-----
From: Ian Taylor [mailto:ict@st-andrews.ac.uk]
Sent: 21 February 2005 19:36
To: Jeffress Frederick Ramsay
Subject: Kenneth Good

Dear Dr Ramsay,

I understand that your government is trying to deport Kenneth Good for
co-authoring a paper with me which is critical of the government and

which
was to be presented at UB.

As a former academic, I am surprised that you are going along with this.

Please note the following people have been directly notified of your
government's behaviour:

Prime Minister Tony Blair
Foreign Secretary Jack Straw
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer (Australia)
Donald Anderson, Chair of UK Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee
Menzies Campbell, Liberal Democrat spokesman on foreign affairs (who has
already contacted Jack Straw on this)

Desk officer with responsibilities including Botswana, Foreign and
Commonwealth Office
British High Commission, Gaborone
American Embassy, Gaborone
Australian High Commission, Pretoria
Media Institute Southern Africa - South Africa Chapter
BBC
BBC World Service
CNN

The Times
The Guardian
The Independent
The Herald
The Scotsman
Business Day
Mail and Guardian
Times Higher Education Supplement
Chronicle of Higher Education

All major academic associations dealing with both African Studies and
International Relations in USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand,
Ireland
and France.

Probably by now, literally thousands of academics and students, through
various e-mail lists and contacts.

Various organisations that I can't keep track of as the e-mails keep
coming
in.

I sincerely trust that Botswana isn't setting itself up for another
great
public relations debacle, as occurred last year over the CKGR.

All rather sad, no?

Ian Taylor

Dr Ian Taylor
School of International Relations
University of St. Andrews
St. Andrews
Fife
Scotland KY16 9AL
United Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0)1334 472926
Fax: +44 (0)1334 462937

Dear Mr Ramsay,

I have been informed that you copied your response to me to all and sundry;
I chose to do likewise, in the interests of truth and accuracy.

In your letter you claim that in your "own honest academic opinion"
Professor Good and I's paper was dependent upon "our local tabloids".

Why are you calling such papers "tabloids"? They are the national newspapers
of Botswana and a source of information for both Batswana and non-Batswana
alike. I am surprised at this contempt for Botswana's media, given that you
used to regularly write a column in these self-same "tabloids" (you are the
same "Jeff Ramsay", aren't you?). Or were Botswana's newspapers only proper
sources, worthy of citation, when Jeff Ramsay wrote for them?

I must say that I am confused by your rhetoric regarding all that stuff on
"we are a sovereign nation", "just as we do not seek to interfere etc",
"after four decades of post-colonial democratic development, we do not
require outside prefects" etc etc. Who is "we", Mr Ramsay? It is well known
that you are a white American ex-schoolteacher, so what's with this faux
nationalism?

More substantively, after four decades of independence, why is the
government of Botswana now hiring an American to spin their stories? That's
not very impressive, is it?

Cutting to the real issue, with reference to the Scotsman article, you claim
that you have read our paper. I do not believe you. If you had read it, you
would've known that NOWHERE does the paper have the section saying that
"Until a few months ago, Mr Khama was head of the 10,000-strong Botswana
Defence Force" etc! That would be the journalist's words, as you well know.

Now, why do you devote so much time attacking a straw man - demolishing a
section of our paper that does not even exist?! Is this supposed to impress
people who haven't had a chance to read the paper yet?

Aren't these type of smear tactics and lies all rather a bit, well,
embarrassing? It reminds me of the good old days last year when the
government was claiming that Survival International was a "terrorist" and
"racist" organisation.

I am honestly surprised that rather than engage with the substantive issue,
the attempted deportation of a 72 year old academic for writing a paper
*that hasn't even been published*, you resort to smears and distortions. One
presumes this is to shut down debate regarding the growing autocracy in
Botswana - as so recently exemplified by the Good case.

5) Speech by H.H. the Vice President launching the State of the World's Children Report (25/2/05)

6) Remarks by the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation at MISA book launching (17/2/05)

E. OP Press Office Forwarding:

1) Letter to the Editor of the Monitor (22/2/05)
2) Response to letter received from Dr. Ian Taylor (26/2/05)
3) Additional notes and forwarding

OPENING

Over the past week there has been a fair amount of local, and some international, media comment surrounding H.E. the President's declaration of an Australian national named Kenneth Good to be a Prohibited Immigrant under Section 7 (f) of the Immigration Act. As this circular goes to press, the status of the said deportation order is still being contested at the High Court, which has been publicly hearing opposing arguments over the past week.

In the above context, it would not be appropriate for this Office to discuss in any detail the circumstances surrounding the order itself. This inability is mandated by the rules of the Court, as well as security restrictions.

Inevitably and understandably, official inability to speak to the issue has given rise to popular speculation. But, as a Government operating within a legal framework we are for now bound to withhold comment. [See also E 2]

********

One of this Office's consistent complaints in recent times has been the tendency among some journalists to sex up their stories with invented quotations. In this respect this week's edition also includes a letter to the Editor of the local Monitor newspaper, one of the publications in the Mmegi stable, with respect to an article we believe misrepresented the Attorney General [E 1].

But then, as the godfather of "gonzo journalism", Hunter S. Thomson, who died this week of an apparent suicide, once noted:

"Absolute truth is a very rare and dangerous thing in the context of professional journalism."

- Dr. Jeff Ramsay, Press Secretary to the President (26/2/05)

Contacts:
Office Telephone: (267) 3975154 & Facsimile: (267) 3902795.
Cell: (267) 71318598.
E-mail: jramsay@gov.bw & jramsayop@yahoo.co.uk.

B. Press Schedule:

As always the events listed below, which represent only those parts of H.E. the President's schedule open in whole or part to press coverage, are subject to change. When possible and necessary, updates will be forwarded. Members of the Press are also encouraged to contact the sponsors of the various events listed below for further programme details and possible updates.

Sunday (27/2/05): In the afternoon, at 16:30, H.E. is expected to return from his overseas travels - SSKI Airport.

Monday (28/2/05): In the afternoon, at 17:00, H.E. the President will receive a delegation from Selibi-Phikwe, led by the urban areas Members of Parliament. In the evening, from 19:00, he will attend a reception hosted by H.E. the Chinese Ambassador, Mr. Jiang Zhengyun, to mark the 30th Anniversary of full diplomatic relations between the Republic of Botswana and the People's Republic of China. The reception will be held at the Chinese Embassy, located at Plot 3096 North Ring Road.

Tuesday (1/3/05): In the morning, at 8:00 am, H.E. the President will receive, at the Office of the President, the Ghanaian Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Nana Akufor Addo, who will be serving in the capacity of a Special Envoy for H.E. the President of Ghana. Thereafter, at 9:00 am, he will be the Guest of Honour at the 10th Anniversary of the Botswana/United States of America (BOTUSA) Project, at the Gaborone Sun.

Thursday (3/3/05): In the evening, at 19:00 hours, H.E. the President will host the annual Reception in Honour of Heads of Diplomatic Mission and International Organisations. We further anticipate that this occasion will also be graced by a very special guest (details to follow)

Saturday (5/3/05): In the evening, at 19:00, H.E. the President will attend the film launch of "Thabo Mbeki's Tribute to Botswana" by Billy Kokorwe at the Stardust Cinema, Grand Palm Hotel.

Tuesday (8/3/05): In the morning H.E. the President of the Republic of Zambia, Levy Mwanawasa, is expected to arrive for the start of a three day Official Visit (further details to be communicated)

Wednesday (16/3/05): In the afternoon, at 14:30, H.E. the President will attend the annual Botswana Defence Force (BDF) Medals Parade at the Sir Seretse Khama Barracks, Mogoditshane.

Saturday (19/3/05): In the morning H.E. the President will attend the annual BDF Day Activities at the National Stadium in Gaborone. In the evening he is also expected to attend the BDF Mess Night.

C. OP Press Coverage Highlights

Monday: In the afternoon, H.E. the President delivered a well attended public lecture on Botswana's development experience at the Institute of Development Studies, Sussex University in the U.K [D 1]. He also fielded questions on a number of topics, including the voluntary relocation of people outside the Central Kalahari Game Reserve.

Tuesday: In the afternoon H.E. the President arrived in Barbados for an Official visit. He then called upon H.E. the Governor-General, Sir Clifford Straughn Husbands. In the evening the Governor General and Lady Husbands hosted a State Banquet in the President and First Lady Barbara Mogae's honour.

Wednesday: During the morning H.E. the President held bilateral talks with the Prime Minister of Barbados, the Rt. Hon. Owen Seymour Arthur and other members of his Cabinet [D 2]. Thereafter the two leaders signed of a Memo of Understanding for enhanced bilateral cooperation, as well as a Double Taxation Agreement [D 3]. In the afternoon H.E. the President met with the Leader of the Opposition in Barbados [D 4].

Friday: In the morning H.E. the President visited the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies. In the afternoon, he was scheduled to hold an end of visit Press Conference at Grand Salle Central Bank Building

Also: In the morning, H.H. the Vice President launched the 2005 State of the World's Children Report with a Keynote Address [D 5].

D. On Record: H.E. the President's:

1) Lecture at the Institute of Development Studies, Sussex University (21/2/05)
2) Remarks at the opening of Bilateral Talks with the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister of Barbados (23/2/05)
3) Remarks at the signing a Memorandum of Understanding on Technical Cooperation and Double Taxation Agreement (23/2/05)
4) Remarks at a meeting with the Hon. Clyde Mascoll, Leader of the Opposition in Barbados (23/2/05)

Also:

5) Speech by H.H. the Vice President launching the State of the World's Children Report (25/2/05)

6) Remarks by the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation at MISA book launching (17/2/05)

D 1) Lecture by H.E. the President at the Institute of Development Studies, Sussex University on Botswana's Development Experience (21/2/05)

Chairperson and Vice Chancellor of the University of Sussex, Professor Alasdair Smith Director of the Institute of Development Studies, Professor Lawrence Haddad Organiser of this Lecture, Professor Raphael Kaplinsky Members of Faculty, Staff, Students and Friends of the University of Sussex and the Institute of Development Studies Distinguished Guests Ladies and Gentlemen

1.      It gives me great pleasure to return to my Alma Mater, the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex, an institution from which I graduated in 1970. My studies at the Institute of Development Studies, and subsequent interactions in the course of my work with faculty members and other alumni, have contributed to my professional growth as a development practitioner. I recall interacting with Professors Richard Jolly and Reginald Green in many fora discussing international development issues. Professors Charles Harvey and Michael Faber have worked as economic advisers in Botswana at various times.

2.        I am also delighted that the Institute of Development Studies has gained world wide recognition as a fountain of objective balanced knowledge and analysis about economic development. Faculty members of the Institute of Development Studies have, in addition to teaching, contributed to development literature, and have been practically engaged as policy advisers and line staff in many countries, international organizations, and policy think tanks. I am happy to continue to tap on the wisdom and intellect of my Alma Mater in the ever changing discourse of the development paradigm. But I also do so for selfish reasons - in Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice, Graciano was said to be reputed wise just because he kept the company of wise men. I suppose nowadays one would have to keep the company of wise women too, which I dare say would be quite agreeable. Keeping your distinguished company will make me be seen to be wise!

3.     In my delivery, I will outline Botswana's economic and political situation at independence, highlight developments since then, speak to the factors responsible for the transition and also outline the challenges Botswana faces for the future.

4.     For the benefit of those of you who may not be familiar with my country, Botswana is a landlocked, semi-arid country of some 582 000 square kilometres in size, which is about the size of Kenya or France, or Texas and hosts a population of just under 2 million people. It shares borders with Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia and Zambia. The country attained self-governance in 1965 and Independence in September 1966 after 80 years as a British Protectorate. In 1966, the total population was estimated at just under 600 000. From independence, Botswana has been a non-racial multi-party democracy operating within the framework of a democratic Constitution, which enshrines freedom of speech, of association, and of worship, and affords all citizens equal rights.

The Colonial Inheritance

5. Chairperson, at the time of Independence in September 1966, Botswana was one of the least developed and poorest nations in the world, with a per capita income estimated at between US$70 and US$90. The majority of the population was dependent on subsistence agriculture with beef production as the mainstay of the economy, amidst a series of recurring prolonged droughts. There were 29 000 people in salaried employment and 30 500 migrant workers, of which 18 000 were employed in South African mines. Remittances of migrant labour were about 17% of total exports. The literacy rate was low and access to health, sanitation, water, telephone, electricity, public transportation and other services was negligible. There was virtually no infrastructure, apart from Cecil Rhodes' railway line completed in 1897. There was less than 10 km of tarmaced road in the entire country. Availability of skilled and professional personnel was no better, with the country having less than 50 university graduates. The institutional machinery to run the operations of Government was weak. Almost everything had to be started from scratch.

6.    Prospects for rapid development were bleak given the fact that for all her capital budget and even a major portion of the recurrent budget, Botswana depended on British foreign aid. This posed a major developmental challenge for the newly independent Botswana. At the time there was a lot of scepticism on the wisdom of this territory seeking self-government and independence.

Political Environment

7. In Botswana everyone is free to air their opinions, no matter how different, something deeply embedded in our cultural heritage. Post-independence leaders built on this heritage. Botswana prides herself in that to this day, the country has never had a single interruption to democratic rule or a political prisoner! The opposition conducts its business freely and without hindrance. Typical of opposition parties, they are kept out of power increasingly by their own fragmentation.

8. Botswana has had nine multi-party elections since 1965 and the Botswana Democratic Party, the party that I lead, has been returned to power on all occasions. Although independent election observers have always pronounced the elections free and fair, some critics consider uninterrupted rule by one party as detracting from a true democracy.

9. I must say, I am quite happy that my party has earned the enduring trust of the electorate to be returned to power with comfortable majorities, at each General Election. But even then, we have not been complacent. Indeed, the very existence of the opposition has kept Government on its toes. Over time, we have introduced changes to our constitution to solidify and adapt our multi-party democracy to suit changing circumstances. Some of the changes include a two-term (10 years) presidential term limit, extending the franchise to 18 year olds and removing discrimination against women, establishing an Independent Electoral Commission and others.

10. Botswana's stable democratic process has been further evidenced by the peaceful and smooth transition of power between the first President Sir Seretse Khama and his successor Sir Ketumile Masire in 1980 following the demise of Sir Seretse Khama. I succeeded Sir Ketumile Masire in 1998 upon his retirement and he continues to live freely in Botswana as the first surviving former Head of State.

Indicators of Progress

11.     Chairperson, I will illustrate briefly what Botswana has achieved. Between independence in 1966 and 1999 real GDP grew on average by 9.2% and per capita GDP by 7%. GDP per capita is now over US$3 500. The national budget has grown from under US$3 million to US$3 billion in 2004. Exports have grown from about US$2 million to US$2 billion in 2002 and imports from US$3 million to US$2 billion. Formal sector employment has risen from 29 000 people to 296 387 in 2004.

12.      In addition, life expectancy at birth rose from 48 years in 1966 to 65.3 years in 1991 before declining to 55.7 years in 2001, largely as a result of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The Infant Mortality Rate has declined from 100 per 1000 live births in 1971 to 55 in 2001. Primary School enrolment rose from 66 100 in 1966 to 327 600 in 2000, representing an average compound growth of 4.8% per annum. Tarmacked roads have gone up from less than 10 kilometres in 1966 to over 10 000 kilometres in 2003. Access to health, education, transport, telecommunication and other services has increased.

13.       The structure of the Botswana economy has also changed significantly since independence. Agriculture accounted for 40% of GDP in 1966 and now accounts for less than 3% of GDP. Mining at just over 33%, is now the largest contributor to GDP. The Botswana economy is very open with Exports plus Imports constituting 79% of GDP. At independence exports primarily consisted of beef, but diamonds exports accounted for over 80% of total exports in 2003. Mineral revenues accounted for 45% of total Government revenue in 2004.

14. Because of progress made, Botswana graduated from the list of 24 least developed countries in 1992. Furthermore, Botswana introduced appropriate macroeconomic and sectoral policies and also established institutions to service a modern day economy, such as the Stock Exchange in 1994. Exchange controls were totally eliminated in 1999, a year after my accession to power.

15. As a further attestation of the progress Botswana has made, Standard and Poor's and Moody's Investors Service have assigned Botswana better than investment grade sovereign credit ratings since 2001. Although some development experts attribute Botswana's relative success to the exploitation of diamond deposits in the late 1970s and the early 1980s, this is only part of the story.

16.     I must say I do not agree with the characterization of Botswana's development experience as a miracle - somehow suggesting some divine intervention or inexplicable reason for what was achieved. Natural resources, no matter how lucrative, cannot develop a country without political stability, sound economic management and prudent financial husbandry.

What explains Botswana's Success?

17.     In my view, many factors were responsible for Botswana's success. These include the political leadership at the time of independence. The leadership was genuinely committed to development and was responsive to the needs of the people through an inclusive political process. There was national cohesion around the development agenda. In a way, the priorities were pre-determined as skilled human resources, physical infrastructure, such as roads and telecommunications; social infrastructure, such as water, health and education; and appropriate institutional infrastructure were almost non-existent.

Development Planning

18.      Botswana developed an elaborate system of planning and produced five-year National Development Plans to articulate Government policies and development priorities. These Plans are enshrined in the law and approved by Parliament. As a result, a development project cannot be implemented if it is not in the Plan, and any periodic modifications, which have to be fully justified, also have to be approved by Parliament. Botswana was consistent in her application of free market principles and practices and pro-growth policies and strategies in minerals, land, agricultural and social development.

19.        The Plans, coupled with transparency, accountability and commitment to abide by the Plans, helped Government to access significant levels of Official Development Assistance and technical assistance. In fact, in the early 1980s, Botswana was one of the largest aid recipients on a per capita basis among the developing countries. The generous technical assistance we received, including from the Institute of Development Studies, enabled us to make effective use, not only of the capital assistance at our disposal, but also and above all, of our own financial resources when they became available as a result of mining activities.

Economic Management

20. Chairperson, Botswana also pursued pragmatic economic policies in the light of her geo-political situation. Although Botswana disagreed fundamentally with the racist policies of the then Apartheid South Africa, South West Africa and Rhodesia, trade and business relations were maintained. Botswana continued to be a member of the Southern African Customs Union and the Rand Monetary Area, in spite of several military attacks on and other punitive measures against us for our support of the liberation movements, which were dubbed terrorist organisations. Regarding the Rand Monetary Area,   membership continued until 1976 when the then recently established Bank of Botswana issued the Pula, enabling the country to pursue independent monetary and exchange rate policies.

21.       Because of Botswana's open market economic system, as well as limited domestic market, trade and exchange rate policies were, and continue to be, critical policies in order to promote the international competitiveness of our goods and services. For this reason, Botswana has been a member of the Southern African Customs Union, Southern African Development Community and the European Union/African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of countries under the Lome Convention, now the Cotonou Agreement. Under the Cotonou Agreement, Botswana beef enters the European Union market with a 90% rebate of the EU import levy.

22. The exchange rate policy has been managed to keep the value of the Pula, our currency, competitive with those of major trading partners. Of course, trade and exchange rate policies were pursued consistent with interest rate, monetary and fiscal policies.

23.      It is a well documented fact that the exploitation of diamonds beginning in 1971, with a further significant mine coming into operation in 1982, changed the economic landscape of Botswana. Botswana is now the world's largest producer of gem diamonds by value, accounting for about 30% of world output. In 2004, the diamond output was 31 million carats valued at over US$2 billion.

24.     Diamond mining is done in partnership with De Beers Mining Company and Government earns revenue through taxation, dividends and royalties. Diamond revenues now constitute about 45% of total Government revenues. Revenues derived from diamonds have contributed significantly to Botswana's economic development because of appropriate political and economic policy environment as well as institutional framework.

25.   Diamond revenues have been invested in the development of human capital, social and physical infrastructure. For many years, especially when the value of the US dollar (the currency in which diamonds are traded) was high, Government accumulated substantial cash balances and foreign exchange reserves.

26.       The thrust of fiscal and expenditure policy was to invest diamond revenues in productive assets rather than consumption. Given Botswana's vulnerability to drought, other natural hazards and fluctuations in the international diamond markets, the accumulation of savings to smooth out the effects of the negative impact of these on our domestic economy was a prime consideration. Botswana is also a country largely dependent on food imports and with weak manufacturing capacity and at the same time currently hard hit by HIV and AIDS. Our policy has also sought to manage Government demand in the economy so as not to crowd out the private sector or cause inflationary pressures as well as to keep a judicious balance between capital expenditure and future recurrent expenditure.

27. Because of relative openness in economic policy making, National Development Planning formulation and priority setting and the constitutionally entrenched role of the Auditor General, the Attorney General, the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime and the independent Judiciary, corruption has been kept in check. A democratic political dispensation, with a free but abusive press and vibrant civil society is also a good check against corruption.

28.       Another important aspect of Botswana's development strategy has been to avoid the accumulation of excessive debt, both internal and external. Throughout the post-independence period, our debt service ratio has been kept below 5% of exports of goods and services. External borrowing was undertaken after careful assessment of projects to be financed as well as realistic assessment of ability to pay back. In addition, Botswana took advantage of concessionary international finance and resisted borrowing at high costs from private capital markets and multilateral development institutions.

Areas of limited Success

29.     Chairperson, Botswana has had limited success in a number of areas. Attempts to industrialise have not been totally successful. Import substitution proved difficult because of the limited domestic market, among others. Extension of time limited subsidies to promote industrialisation, through the Financial Assistance Policy, attracted foot-loose enterprises. Although manufacturing has grown, its contribution to GDP has remained at about 5% on account of GDP growing rapidly because of diamonds.

30. In the mid-1980s Government expenditure grew excessively causing the economy to overheat, especially in the construction sector. The cost of construction increased as a consequence. This was further exacerbated by negative real interest rates at the time. But we have learned from that experience. Real interest rates have been kept positive, and in spite of revenue fluctuations due to cross exchange rate movements, the ratio of Government expenditure to GDP has been relatively stable at around 45%.

31.   Government has promoted growth across the economy, especially agriculture, through targeted subsidies. Some of the subsidy programmes generated little, if any, additional output and led to over-dependence on Government.

32. Botswana is often criticized for high levels of income inequality and rates of poverty. According to most recent data, the number of people living under the Poverty Datum Line decreased from 47% in 1993/94 to 30.3% in 2002/03. Government provision of health, education, school feeding, etc., has helped mitigate the effects of poverty.

33.     In the last two years, the Government budget has come under stress because of the depreciation of the US dollar against the Pula as well as the South African Rand in which our customs union revenues are denominated. Diversification of the economy as well as Government revenue base has to be pursued with more vigour.

Challenges for the future

34.      Chairperson, whilst Botswana has made appreciable progress in economic development, many challenges remain. These include sustained improvement in living standards. Our national Vision 2016 is targeting a real GDP growth of 8% per annum up to year 2016. This can be achieved through economic diversification, especially into services such as tourism and international financial services, to reduce dependence on diamonds. Furthermore, concerted efforts are necessary for poverty eradication, sustainable environmental management, employment creation, macroeconomic stability, as well as sustaining high levels of transparency, accountability and good governance. Botswana also has to optimise opportunities arising from globalization.   In this regard, the realization of objectives underpinning the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) should assist the integration of our economy into the global economy as well as intra-African cooperation.

35.      And as you may know, one of the greatest single challenges the nation of Botswana faces is the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Preliminary survey results, released in December 2004, indicate that 17.1% of the total population over 18 months of age is estimated to be infected with the HIV virus. A worrying statistic is that the population aged 15-49 years is hardest hit with an infection rate of 34.4%.

36.    In 2004, Government spent about US$130 million in direct costs on HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, mitigation, support and care programmes. About 30 600 people are on Anti Retroviral Therapy in public health facilities and 7 000 in private facilities out of an estimated 110 000 most in need of immediate care. Other programmes include Capacity Building (infrastructure and human resources), Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission, Orphan Care, Routine HIV Testing, Community Based Home Care and extensive Information, Education and Communication campaign.

37.     Although the various programmes are generously financed by multinational companies, multilateral agencies and some donor countries, the Government of Botswana shoulders a substantial part of the burden. The good progress we are making would have been even better had it not been for the effects of stigma, discrimination and other inhibitions. Unless the costs of treatment and drugs further come down significantly, it will be difficult to sustain the costs of the various programmes without compromising sustainable development.

38. Needless to say, HIV/AIDS is reversing some of the achievements we had made. And high levels of mortality and morbidity have an adverse effect on labour productivity. This has accentuated the shortages of skilled and professional human resources. This is particularly so for health personnel which is causing a severe strain to our health facilities.

39.    The fabric of our society and culture is being tested to the limit by the care for the sick and infected as well as the increasing number of orphans and the effect this has on rates of savings. Registered orphans in 2004 numbered 47 925. The fight against HIV/AIDS is central to poverty reduction, employment creation as well as sustained improvements in living standards.

40.       I would like to believe that institutions such as the Institute for Development Studies can find a way of contributing to our efforts to overcome the HIV and AIDS pandemic. This is truly a human tragedy that requires the undivided attention of all of humanity.

41.        As I already pointed out earlier, Botswana is susceptible to severe and frequent droughts. At the present time, the capital, Gaborone, is under water restrictions because the dam that feeds it is about 25% full, enough supply for just 7 or so months. Finding reliable water sources for agricultural development and human consumption is a major development challenge for Botswana.

Conclusion

42.   Chairperson, I wish to conclude by observing that economic management in a given country has to respond to the particular circumstances on the ground. Good policies, strategies and management cannot simply be transplanted from one economic regime to another. Without appropriate policies, the exploitation of valuable natural resources is no guarantee for success. In my view, key prerequisites for success include the following:

(i) the need for national priorities and well defined and agreed co-coordinated development processes right from the grassroots levels;

(ii) inclusiveness in the development process i.e., development policies must not favour particular individuals or sectors at the expense of the rest of society. All must share in the fruits of development.

(iii) Government must recognise the important role of other development stakeholders and establish fora for regular consultations; and

(iv) there is need to develop trust among key stakeholders, by acknowledging mistakes and taking corrective action on key matters.

Disagreements must be well managed so that they do not degenerate into irreconcilable differences over protracted periods of time.

43.     Botswana's development experience may not be perfect, but many independent development analysts have concluded, that the lives of the vast majority of Batswana have been significantly improved by Government policies and programmes.

44.     The Botswana economy has been transformed from a backwater economy to a progressive and forward looking economy in just over three and a half decades. But I say this, fully cognisant of the fact that many challenges lie ahead. Chairperson, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, I thank you for your kind attention.

D 2) Remarks by H.E. the President at the opening of Bilateral Talks with the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister of Barbados (23/2/04)

Right Honourable Prime Minister, Owen Seymour Arthur
Senior Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Honourable Dame Billie Miller Honourable Barbadian Cabinet Ministers Honourable Phandu Skelemani, Minister of Presidential Affairs and Public Administration Member of Parliament for Palapye, Honourable Lephimotswe Sebetela

1.        Ladies and Gentlemen let me begin by thanking you Prime Minister Owen Arthur, for your invitation to this, your lovely and beautiful country. My wife, delegation and I are grateful for the warm welcome, friendship and hospitality accorded to us. We really feel at home.

2.       I very much looked forward to this visit to reaffirm the friendship between Botswana and Barbados. We have come this far to demonstrate that the vast seas, oceans and distance cannot separate us. We are one people.

3.       We share common ancestral roots, the African roots. We share the Commonwealth heritage, and above all, Barbados and Botswana share a common belief in and adherence to the ideals of democracy, good governance and respect for the rule of law.

4.     I also looked forward to this visit because I strongly believe that we should not allow the process which we began last year to lose momentum. As you correctly sated on the occasion of your official visit to Botswana last June, it is important that we establish a more structured approach to our bilateral relations.

5. Today, I am pleased that our officials have successfully carried out the mandate entrusted to them to develop a framework for enhancing co-operation between our two countries. The Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement and the Memorandum of Understanding on Technical Co-operation should go a long way to give content and practical meaning to the concrete structure we both seek to create in our bilateral relations.

6.        It is in our interest as small, middle income developing countries to deepen our co-operation. The agreements which we will sign later today should contribute not only to greater mutual understanding between Botswana and Barbados but also form the basis for enhancing the process of global co-operation among small states.

7.   We live in an international economic environment in which we find ourselves negotiating on different fronts. It is imperative therefore that we do all we can to strengthen our alliances. This should enable us to develop common positions and strategies to promote and defend our interests. Here I am in particular looking at our interests as the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific group as well as our negotiations within the framework of the World Trade Organisation.

8.      It is our duty to demand that the international community has a moral duty to be as concerned as we are about the destiny of our people. We have a duty to demand practical policy responses that can promote an agenda for development a more just and equitable world order. And once again as you rightly pointed out in June last year, global prosperity should not be reserved for certain regions or races, it must belong to humanity as a whole.

9.   I am therefore delighted to be here in Barbados to reaffirm our commitment to working closely with you to ensure that we can strengthen one another and to be part of the decision making process on broader issues of development.

10. Mr. Prime Minister, let me conclude by expressing our gratitude for the programme which has been put together for this visit. We look forward to each and every aspect of the programme and in particular to interact with the friendly people of Barbados. I thank you.

D 3) Remarks by H.E. the President at the signing a Memorandum of Understanding on Technical Cooperation and Double Taxation Agreement with Barbados (23/2/05)

Right Honourable Prime Minister Owen S. Arthur
Senior Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Honourable Dame Billie Miller Honourable Barbadian Cabinet Ministers Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Honourable Phandu Skelemani Member of Parliament for Palapye, Honourable Lephimotswe Boyce Sebetela Ladies and Gentlemen

1.       I am delighted that we have today signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Technical Co-operation and the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement. The negotiations, conclusion and signing of these agreements demonstrate our common commitment to give practical meaning to our relations.

2.   As the ink dries on these documents, it is not the content of the agreements, important as it is, which matters most, but rather the will and unity of purpose to ensure their effective implementation. I have no doubt that we will both maintain the same spirit of determination and urgency that inspired the negotiations and subsequent signing of the two documents.

3. We are both small and middle income developing countries. We have human and financial resource constraints. But fortunately we both have some measure of experience in terms of prudent and efficient management of resources. In this respective, I am pleased that we should be able to exercise creativity in undertaking result oriented activities. In other words, none of us has an appetite for meetings that are undertaken at great expense but with little or nothing to show.

4.   It is my hope that we will not be discouraged by starting with small projects. Great ideas often start small and grow. In our approach to our bilateral co-operation, therefore, we should not judge ourselves harshly if we start with small projects. What is important is our steadfastness and commitment to ensure the successful completion of whatever we set out to do.

5.     The signing of these agreements is significant in another way. The Right Honourable Prime Minister, and I, have committed ourselves to working together not only bilaterally, but also at the multilateral level as well. Our bilateral co-operation should establish the foundation for greater mutual understanding and collaboration on broader issues of development.

6.   We should work closely together with other small states to make our voices heard in world affairs. Our countries are exposed to the same risks such as dependence on international trade, limited markets and dependence on foreign investments from other countries. We are vulnerable to changes in exchange rates, depressed markets and global insecurity over which we have no control. We can therefore rely on each others' mutual support and solidarity, the strength of our numbers, the moral high ground and the justness of the positions we articulate on global development issues.

7. In conclusion, let us never under estimate the value of friendship, solidarity and common belief in universal values. Our readiness to stand together on the issues on which our societies are founded, that is, peace, stability, democracy and good governance are fundamental to our ability to present demands for a ore just and equitable world order. In other words, we can achieve some measure of success in demanding that democracy and prosperity should be the common heritage of humanity.

D 4) REMARKS BY HIS EXCELLENCY MR. FESTUS G. MOGAE, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF BOTSWANA, AT A MEETING WITH HONOURABLE CLYDE MASCOLL, LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION IN BARBADOS (23/2/05)

1. Thank you very much, Honourable Clyde Mascoll, for this opportunity to meet with you. It is not common, at least in Africa, for a visiting Head of State or Government to meet the Leader of the Opposition.

2. This is a tribute to your country, Barbados, the oldest democracy in the Caribbean. It demonstrates the maturity of your national institutions and the atmosphere of tolerance that prevails in the country.

3. It is also a reflection of the quality of leadership which the country has had over the years. I therefore commend you as Leader of the Opposition and your political party, the Democratic Labour Party for your contribution to the continued stability and good governance of Barbados. In this respect the contributions made by the former Prime Minister Errol Barrow and former Prime Minister Erskine Sandiford, deserve a place in the annals of democracy in this country.

4.        We are here as your friends, friends of the Government and people of Barbados as a whole. Botswana and Barbados have proud of our record as the oldest democracy in Africa. We have a lot in common. We share common ancestral roots, the African roots and a commonwealth in heritage.   It is because of these ties that neither ocean nor distance is or can be a barrier to our relations.

5.     In Africa we continue to do everything we can to promote the development of stable democratic and accountable political systems. There is some measure of progress as demonstrated by our determination to reject and condemn any unconstitutional change of Government. The regime in Togo is currently under pressure from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Chairman of the African Union, President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria.

8. The adoption of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) was also a major step forward. Under NEPAD, African countries recognize the problems that bedevil the continent such as bad governance and economic mismanagement. We assume ownership of these problems, accept the responsibility to find solutions and to work in collaboration with the rest of the international community to address them.

9.       A lot still needs to be done. As you may be aware we still experience some of the worst forms of atrocities perpetrated in Darfur, the Sudan against innocent men, women and children, conflict situations which entail the loss of human lives in Burundi, Cote D'Ivore, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to mention but a few. However, we cannot afford to lose hope. We continue to work hard for a better, more peaceful and prosperous Africa.

10. In all this we count on the goodwill and solidarity of friends around the world including the people of Barbados. We do so because we are convinced that peace is indivisible. Humanity is at peace when the sum of its individual parts is all at peace.

D 5) Speech by H.H. the Vice President launching the State of the World's Children Report (25/2/05)

Director of Ceremonies
Honourable Ministers
Members of the Diplomatic Corps
The United Nations Resident Representative
The UNICEF Representative to Botswana
Permanent Secretaries
Representatives of the Civil Society
Young People
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen

1.    Close to fifteen years ago, the United Nations member states, including Botswana ratified the United Nations Charter on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), committing ourselves to safeguard the rights of children and to create an environment in which children will attain their fullest potential. This act of ratification has indeed resulted in a tremendously significant achievement: the Convention on the Rights of the Child is still unsurpassed in its status as the most universally ratified human rights instrument in the history of mankind.

2.        In ratifying this convention, we undertook to ensure that children's rights are upheld and that we will create an environment in which child survival, growth and development is guaranteed. We also committed ourselves to protect the children from all forms of abuse. Therefore, this is a time when all signatories to the UNCRC should reflect on how much they have done to fulfil their obligations to children. I am aware that Botswana has as recently as September 2004, appeared before the United Nations Commission on the Rights of the Child to present and defend our report on the implementation of the UNCRC. This is indeed an indication of our commitment to uphold the principles of this charter. I assure you that the outcomes of the deliberations of the commission will be taken seriously and will be included in our programs and plans.

3.      In 2002, I led a delegation including two young people, to the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on Children. At this session, delegates affirmed in a declaration called "A World Fit for Children", to put children first in their national development agenda. In this declaration we committed ourselves "to create a world fit for children in which sustainable development, taking into account the best interests of the child, is founded on the principles of democracy, equality, non-discrimination, peace, social justice and universality, indivisibility, interdependence and interrelatedness of all human rights including the right to development". To this effect we undertook to among others, put children first, eradicate poverty, educate every child, fight HIV/AIDS, and care for every child and to protect the earth for children.

4.       While these commitments appear to be attainable, particularly by our standards in Botswana where education and health are free; we find ourselves facing the greatest development challenge ever i.e. HIV/AIDS and Poverty. These are threatening to reverse all the socio-economic gains we had made as a country. Many of our children are rendered orphans by HIV/AIDS and some are swept into the vicious circle of poverty as the economically active young parents succumb to the virus leaving the children with no means of support. We have now registered and are assisting 47 000 orphans.

5. The Government of Botswana is committed to fight these socio-economic ills. Our National Poverty Alleviation Strategy 2003 and the National Strategic Framework for HIV/AIDS 2003-2009 bear testimony to our commitment. These are ambitious targets, they are challenges that we cannot overcome single-handedly, and we need the continued support of our development partners as well as the full participation of all the people of Botswana. I therefore call upon the people of Botswana and all stakeholders to double our efforts as well as to participate actively to fight the twin evils of HIV/AIDS and poverty. We all need to take responsibility to rid ourselves of these problems if we are to make our country fit for child well-being.

6. We are here today to launch the State of the World's Children Report published by UNICEF. This is not the first time that this report is published, and every publication has been set around some thematic areas. For example previous reports have touched on the themes of education, the girl-child, leadership for children and participation of children in issues that affect them.

7.    This year's report highlights poverty, HIV/AIDS and conflict; three of the most devastating issues for children in our time. It is indeed a concern that in the world today, about 400 million children do not have access to safe water, 90 million are severely deprived of food and nearly 4 million children have been killed in armed conflicts in the 1990's, while the HIV/AIDS pandemic is wreaking havoc in the Sub-Saharan Region. I trust that this report has identified strategies that countries can adopt to overcome poverty, HIV/AIDS and use to broker peace in the warring regions.

8.       This report also puts across measures that countries should take to ensure that children have a protected childhood. Let me take this opportunity to state some of them:

* Governments should promote and adopt a human rights based approach to social and economic development, with special emphasis on reaching the most vulnerable children.

* Governments and donors should increase the investment in children, and promote the practice of monitoring and analysing budget expenditure with a specific focus on the impact on children's welfare and development.

* Individuals, families, communities and businesses need to get involved and stay engaged in bettering the lives of children and to use their resources to promote and protect children's rights.

9.      These are indeed noble strategies, but the biggest question is how far our economies that are devastated by HIV/AIDS and some reeling in debt can go on implementing these measures. Indeed we remain committed to making this a "World fit for Children" but Africa needs more concerted commitments from the developed world and development partners to help us realise our commitments to children.

10.     In Botswana we have undertaken to care for children infected and affected by HIV/AIDS and to mitigate the impact of the epidemic by providing food and other necessities to orphans and vulnerable children. We have initiated the review of the Children's Act of 1981 using a human rights based approach to law reform and programming and we are making particular efforts through all our structures to protect our children. For example the courts have adopted a more child-friendly approach to trying children's cases and we have set up a rehabilitation centre in Molepolole for juvenile offenders. Access to education has improved tremendously, with no significant disparities in school attendance of orphans and non-orphans or by gender. We were indeed on course of realising the Millennium Development Goals had it not been for HIV/AIDS. However I am confident that one day we will overcome this devastating pandemic and our peaceful country will once more be a safe haven for child-well being.

11.     I am indeed grateful to our development partners and in particular to UNICEF for working alongside us to develop and implement all our children's programs. I have been made to understand that UNICEF is providing financial and technical support to the Ministry of Local Government to evaluate the Short Term Plan of Action for Orphans and to develop a long-term plan. Furthermore, consultations towards developing a national protocol on protection of children from child trafficking, sexual exploitation and protection from all forms of abuse are about to take place. I hope that as this process unfolds, all stakeholders will be taken aboard so that effective implementation will take place with full ownership by all. May I also take this opportunity to thank UNICEF profoundly for supporting the development of the second National Plan of Action for Children. We are all anxiously awaiting its completion.

12. In conclusion, I wish to affirm the words of the Executive Director of UNICEF, Ms. Carol Bellamy that "human progress can only really happen when every child has a healthy and protected childhood". With these words, I make an impassioned plea to all of you to join hands with our government and its partners, in working towards creating an environment that nurtures the ideals of childhood; a childhood in which children are loved, cared for and protected; a childhood that enables children to grow up in families where they are assured of survival and development as well as being accorded an opportunity to participate. Our children are the future.

13.   It is now my pleasure to declare the 2005 State of the World's Children's Report Officially launched.

D 6) Remarks by the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation at the MISA launch of a booklet - "Licensing and Accreditation - the threat to media freedom in the SADC region" (17/2/05)

Chairperson of Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Botswana Chapter, Mrs. Amelia Malebane-Lopez,
Honourable Members of Parliament here present,
Your Worship, the Mayor of Gaborone, Mr. Nelson Ramaotwana,
Members of the Diplomatic Corp,
Members of the media,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,

1.     I thank you most profoundly for extending to me an invitation to officiate at the launch of this booklet, entitled:" Licensing and Accreditation - the threat to media freedom in the SADC region". My joy at being in this launch is multiplied many-fold by the fact that this is for me also a personal call, both in the physical and emotional sense.

2.    I thought I should therefore seize this opportunity to share a few words with you which may be useful in helping us move towards a common understanding of this highly debatable subject of media freedom.

3.    For us who have been elected into positions of leadership, our role is first and foremost, to provide guidance and ensure that the socio-economic aspirations of our citizens are realized. To this end, we depend a great deal on the support of the media fraternity - that is the support of the professional and ethical media. However, we have often found ourselves on opposite sides, which brings into question whether we clearly understand our respective roles and in particular the role of the media in governance and socio-economic development. The question that comes up then is: do the media have a role to play in national development? I believe you will agree with me that the answer to this question is not as easy as it may appear.

4.      Some would say that the media merely reflects the events that occur in a society at any point in its history, but would not cause or influence events, while others say the media should play a role of a watchdog in society.

5.        New technologies have also brought in rapid communications and a world characterized by abundance of information, instant communication and porous borders. We therefore, see the media increasingly setting the public agenda. I am of the view that the media today cannot be neutral in development issues, and do have an important role to play in the overall process of development.

6.   I must add that the Botswana media deserves the praise for its good relations with the Government, and for my Ministry, this is clearly evidenced by your continued coverage of Botswana's position on various issues discussed at the United Nations, the African Union and other fora. I would like to take this opportunity to commend you on your commitment to the development of humankind, through your analyses of the many challenges that confront us. To this end, I stand here this evening to pay a glowing tribute to you, not only as a supporter of a free and responsible press, but also as an adviser.

7.     I am even more encouraged that you have published this booklet. It could not have come at an appropriate time and I believe it will enhance your capacity to play an even more strengthened and focused role in your contribution to our development. I have every reason to believe that guidelines contained in this booklet strengthen your self-assessment and professionalism, and ensure a high degree of public confidence in the industry.

8.   Reportage that is characterized by lack of facts and misinterpretation of issues and un-informed aspersions on individuals and institutions do not augur well and can only at best, put the credibility of the media at stake. It is, therefore, incumbent upon you to ensure that your standards are second to none and compete with any in the international arena. Only until you have addressed the core issue of a balanced, informed, fair and honest reporting, will you earn the goodwill and respect of the general public and the international community. My Ministry stands ready to cooperate with you in the pursuit of your noble task.

9.        I am informed that this booklet is an advocacy tool serving to highlight the plight of journalists and the many challenges they are facing in the SADC region. In light of rampant and all-pervasive threats to media freedom highlighted in some parts of this world, it is incumbent upon you to devise strategies that would address emerging challenges and ensure the free flow of information. Although the media is beset with difficulties in the line of their duty, I strongly believe that the truth is mightier than the sword and will always prevail.

10. At this moment, I would like pay homage to those who fell in the course of their duty.

11.     The other challenge to the media is trust and accountability. If the nation loses trust in the media, the latter ceases to be effective purveyor of information and also risks losing the confidence of the public. Therefore, a professional and accountable media is a prerequisite for promoting and nurturing free and open society.

Distinguished guests,

12.        On August 14, 2001, the Heads of State of the SADC countries signed the SADC Protocol on Culture, Information and Sport which heralded in a new era whereby regional governments committed themselves to the promotion, establishment and growth of an independent media as well as the free flow of information. The Protocol is a show of commitment by governments to harmonize their policies and legislation in line with international best practices and norms that not only promote free expression, but also advance democratic norms and processes.

13.        The Government of the Republic of Botswana, as a signatory to the Protocol, is committed to among others, strengthening public information institutions to be effective gatherers and disseminators of information and news and take positive measures to narrow the information gap between the rural and urban areas by increasing the coverage of the mass media. We see the media not only as a commercial enterprise, but also as an important vehicle for advancing the course of human development. This commitment is in line with the ideals of our national vision of "Building an Educated and Informed Nation" and "Building an Open, Democratic and Accountable Nation", and ensuring that the freedom of the press is guaranteed in law and in practice.

14.     The envisaged Freedom of Information Act will protect the rights of citizens to have access to information, and to ensure the accountability of all public and private institutions. We are also committed to turn organs of communication into genuine and credible market places of ideas by encouraging diversity, breadth and professionalism. In signing the Protocol that came into effect last year, I believe that SADC governments are committed to using the Protocol as a yardstick for measuring not only media freedom, but also the contribution that it is making to society. Civil society will also use the Protocol as barometer to gauge if Governments live up to their commitments. More importantly, the Protocol also recognizes the right to information which in itself is an important milestone in Africa, and a vehicle for development.

15. Media freedom, coupled with freedom of expression, is guaranteed in all major international human rights instruments, which emphasize the importance that the media is accorded in democratic societies. The freedom is guaranteed in a number of United Nations human rights instruments such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, and regional human rights instruments such as the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights. It is for this reason that there is need for the Government to inform the media on government policies. The media should also be well informed and updated with the development trends, both local and international, and their likely impact on our own development endeavours.

16.        Governments should therefore, make information readily available to the media, and also strive towards adopting policies that promote easy access to information from the public sector. In the same document, SADC governments commit themselves to creating a political and economic environment conducive to the growth of pluralistic media. In such a competitive environment, it goes without saying that only those sectors of the media characterized by a high level of professionalism stand a chance of surviving. It is, therefore incumbent upon all of you to make sure you meet the challenges of a globalised world and raise your standards to compete in this environment.

17. I am sure that you will agree with me that not long ago, the foreign media was more popular than our own. However, over the years, this trend has reversed and I must commend you most heartily for your success in capturing the confidence of our market.

18. In pursuit of our commitment to improving free flow of information, Botswana intends to cooperate with other SADC countries in capacity building to enhance the dissemination of data and encourage networking of news agencies in the region. In this regard, we are committed to ensuring the growth of a robust, ethical, diverse and pluralistic media.

19. It is only fitting that this launch is taking place amidst significant developments that have characterized the local media industry such as the recent establishment of the Press Council of Botswana, launched in February 2003. I am informed that the Council has been vested with the powers to act as a self-regulating body, regulating the affairs of media practitioners. This includes the disciplinary powers over those who violate the code of ethics developed by the media profession and enforced by the Press Council, as well as powers to adjudicate over complaints brought by members of the public against members of the media fraternity who subscribe to the code. I must commend you for this brave decision which will in no small measure, boost public confidence in the media fraternity. This is, indeed, ample evidence that you are not only more than ready to raise your standards, but also to be held accountable by your market.

20.       The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) deserves praise for the consistent stand it has always taken against media freedom violations. Botswana takes pride in the progress she has made in the promotion of the free press. Freedom of the media and freedom of expression are indeed part of the basic tenets of our democracy. The Government is committed to free and open discussion and involving all stakeholders in our development. Free and open discussion and transparency have a great potential in enhancing good and accountable governance, and is in line with the Nepad Initiative.    Therefore, the media must capture and address itself to this state of affairs which is aimed at providing better quality of life for all our people, entrenching political stability and the creation of a healthy economic climate for both domestic and foreign investment.

21.     Our commitment to ensure that we maintain peace and stability in our country should be a collective undertaking, because when the heaven falls, it will fall on everyone's head. It should be appreciated that we all have a stake in the future of this country, and therefore, we should assume collective ownership of this responsibility. The media has an obligation to clearly define its role in this regard. It is your calling to keep the nation well-informed.

22.   The media, like other institutions of civil society, is encouraged to continue shaping the future of this nation. It should attract wider listenership, viewership and readership. Without an audience, the media is devoid of all meaning.

23. The client is not to be regarded as passive, ever-ready to swallow every word from the media. No credible journalist would welcome this calibre of audience or readership. Criticism must not just be for the sake of criticism. It must be informed with the purpose of achieving a positive goal. Therefore, attempts to ensure that the SADC Protocol on Culture, Information and Sport promotes and creates an enabling condition in the region for media freedom should be supported and encouraged, provided that it is done in a constructive and engaging manner.

24.    With these remarks, may you now join me in officially launching the booklet on the Analysis and Comments on the SADC Protocol on Culture, Information and Sport. Thank you.

E. OP Press Office Forwarding:

   1) Letter to the Editor of the Monitor newspaper (22/2/05)
   2) Response to letter received from Dr. Ian Taylor (26/2/05)
   3) Additional notes and forwarding

E 1) 22/2/05: Letter to the Editor of the Monitor

The following letter was forwarded on 22/2/05 to the editor of the Monitor newspaper, Mr. Gideon Nkala, and initially copied to others at the Mmegi/Monitor, along with the Chairperson of the Press Council and Domestic news editors:

Dear Sir,

Re: Your Newspaper's False Front Page Headline - "I will take the Chief Justice Offer"- and further associated distortions

With reference to the above, and having received copies of the correspondence between the Hon. Attorney General and yourself, which purportedly formed the basis of the said article, this Office is obliged to express its dismay at a number of distortions that, if not corrected, can only serve to mislead and confuse the public.

In particular we take exception to your page one headline, which falsely quotes the Hon. Attorney General as having said:

"I'll take the Chief Justice Offer"

We note that no such statement appears in the Attorney General's written response to your questionnaire of 4/2/05. In this respect, this Office has on numerous occasions, and in multiple fora, previously expressed its concern about the tendency on the part of members of the local media to invent quotations. It is precisely because of this malpractice that many public officers now insist on communicating to all journalists in writing.

Further to the above I would note that the negative impact of the above false quotation is aggravated by your article's page three headline - "Kirby Says He Will Take Chief Justice Offer" - and equally misleading first paragraph, which goes on to state:

"...The Attorney General told Monitor that it would be an honour to serve as the Chief Justice after his impending retirement."

Here again one looks in vain to find anything in the Attorney General's written response in which he expresses any interest or desire to serve as Chief Justice. What he did in fact say is, rather, confined to what only appears in your article's second paragraph:

"Should I be offered a future appointment to the Judiciary that would also be an honour, but can only be done, as in the case of all judicial appointments, in terms of the Constitution."

This Office trusts that your paper (or its daily sister publication) will correct the above distortion in keeping the guidelines set out under section 3(i.) of the Botswana Media Code of Ethics, which states:

"If a Media Institution discovers that it has published a report containing a significant distortion of facts, it must publish a correction promptly and with comparable prominence. If a Media Institution discovers that it has published an erroneous report that has caused harm to a person or institution's reputation, it must publish an apology promptly and with due prominence."

We further trust that the Monitor (or its daily sister publication) will also promptly publish this letter in keeping with its commitment under section 4 of the Media Code's "Right of Reply/Rebuttal".

E 2) 26/2/05: Open response by Press Secretary to letter received from Dr. Ian Taylor, along with Dr. Taylor's original communication (below).

Dear Dr. Taylor

Just to let you know that I received your email (below), as well as the other e-mailed articles and comments you have been so kindly forwarding to me all week. As you should know by now the matter of Dr. Good's deportation is before the High Court. As I have already informed your friend at the BBC, and others, it would therefore be inappropriate for me to comment on the matter as it is sub judice.

In the above context, I can only observe that your conviction that the deportation order is the result of your seminar paper is quite presumptuous. My own honest academic opinion, by the way, is that in the paper you and your colleague have merely regurgitated a litany of opinions and innuendos culled from our local tabloids, hardly earthshaking stuff.

I am, moreover, surprised that you, as a supposed scholar of international relations, believe that I or anyone else in this Government should be overly concerned about your ongoing efforts to mobilise external opinion against us. We are a sovereign nation whose relations with the global community are predicated on well rooted norms of mutual respect. Just as we do not seek to interfere when others deport third party nationals from their jurisdictions, we expect them to refrain from undue interference when and if we exercise our own lawful governing authority. To put it mildly after four decades of post-colonial democratic development, we do not require outside prefects.

By the way I had already seen the article in the Scotsman you sent me, which I note is authored by the late Jonas Savimbi's one time spin-doctor, Fred Bridgland. Given his recent cheerleading on behalf of Survival International, I fully expected that he would join the rest of Steve Corey's media chorus this week.

At any rate, I notice that in the said article Bridgland cites you and your colleague in making a number of rather extraordinary claims. For me the passage that really takes the haggis is the following:

"Until a few months ago, Mr Khama was head of the 10,000-strong Botswana Defence Force. He was appointed to parliament by Mr Mogae without an election and elevated to vice-president without any consultation of parliament. Under the Botswana constitution the vice-president automatically becomes president when the president steps down, which Mr Mogae plans to do by 2007."

It seems to me that even a tabloid political alchemist should be aware of the following basic facts:

* That our Vice President retired from the military seven years ago;

* That he has since been elected to Parliament in his own constituency on three separate occasions;

* That he has, in accordance with our constitution, also been endorsed by a vote of the entire Parliament for the position of Vice President on three occasions, most recently last November, following his party's victory in the General Election; and

* That our Constitution currently mandates that our State President can serve up to ten years in Office (i.e. if he is re-elected and does not lose control of Parliament through a vote of no confidence), meaning that President Mogae can remain as the Head of State until April 2008, which, as he has publicly said on numerous occasions, is his intention.

Yours faithfully,

Dr. Jeff Ramsay
Press Secretary to the President

Original Message from Dr. Ian Taylor:

Dear Dr Ramsay,

I understand that your government is trying to deport Kenneth Good for co-authoring a paper with me which is critical of the government and which was to be presented at UB.

As a former academic, I am surprised that you are going along with this.

Please note the following people have been directly notified of your government's behaviour:

Prime Minister Tony Blair
Foreign Secretary Jack Straw

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer (Australia)
Donald Anderson, Chair of UK Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee Menzies Campbell, Liberal Democrat spokesman on foreign affairs (who has already contacted Jack Straw on this)

Desk officer with responsibilities including Botswana, Foreign and Commonwealth Office British High Commission, Gaborone American Embassy, Gaborone Australian High Commission, Pretoria Media Institute Southern Africa - South Africa Chapter BBC, BBC World Service CNN

The Times
The Guardian
The Independent
The Herald
The Scotsman
Business Day
Mail and Guardian
Times Higher Education Supplement
Chronicle of Higher Education

All major academic associations dealing with both African Studies and International Relations in USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and France.

Probably by now, literally thousands of academics and students, through various e-mail lists and contacts.

Various organisations that I can't keep track of as the e-mails keep coming in.

I sincerely trust that Botswana isn't setting itself up for another great public relations debacle, as occurred last year over the CKGR.

All rather sad, no?

Ian Taylor

E 3) Additional notices and forwarding for the week ending on 26/2/05:
* 22/2/05: H.E. the President to arrive in Barbados today
* 23/2/05: H.E. the President arrives in Barbados w/ attached picture and local press coverage
* 24/2/05: MOU w/Barbados signed
* 24/2/05: Prensa Latina (Cuba) - "Botswana President calls for closer relations with Developing Nations."
* 24/2/05: The Nation (Barbados) - "Mutual Gains"
* 25/2/05: Data from Botswana and Cote d'Ivoire suggests drugs greatly reduce mother to child transmission of HIV
* 25/2/05: The Nation (Barbados) - "Dance for the President"
* 25/2/05: The Nation - Barbados Labour Party Column - "Welcome to our Visitors"
* 25/2/05: The Advocate (Barbados) - "Cultural Show a Hit"