VICE PRESIDENT KHAMA TAKES HEAT FROM MPS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 GABORONE 000478

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SUBJECT: VICE PRESIDENT KHAMA TAKES HEAT FROM MPS

REF: GABORONE 161333Z FEB 05


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Botswana's just-concluded parliamentary
session contained some embarrassing but revealing moments
for Vice President Ian Khama. His contributions to the
National Assembly were brought into question by MPs asking
why he does not report to the legislature. Others
complained that implementation of projects by the
ministries, which Khama officially oversees, is poor. Khama
struck a populist note as the session concluded, however, by
encouraging the MPs to "exercise restraint" as they
considered a bill to increase their own compensation. End
Summary.


2. (SBU) Vice President Khama, who will replace President
Mogae in March 2008 if Mogae does not retire earlier,
represents an unfolding enigma. When Khama joined active
politics in 1998, he was a popular but puzzling figure - a
single, middle-aged man who abstained from alcohol and spoke
barely comprehensible Setswana. His almost immediate
departure for a twelve-month leave of absence intensified
the public's curiosity. Although surveys and anecdotal
evidence indicate that Khama is well-liked and respected by
Batswana, suspicions about his leadership style persist
among the political elite.

KHAMA SHOULD REPORT TO PARLIAMENT


3. (SBU) The debate over the budget revealed some concern
about Vice President Khama's role as Member of Parliament.
Specially-elected MP Botsalo Ntuane caused a stir when he
asked why Khama did not report to the National Assembly.
Khama previously held the portfolio for the Ministry of
Presidential Affairs and Public Administration but in 2001
surrendered that position to oversee implementation of
national development plans across all ministries. Since
then, he has yet to report to the National Assembly on his
progress. Indeed, it is common knowledge that Khama rarely
attends sessions of parliament, and almost never speaks. If
the President and the Ministers report, asked Ntuane, why
not the Vice President? Ntuane told Emboffs on March 22
that when a fellow MP rose to echo his sentiments, the Vice
President stood up laughing and walked out. Other MPs
indirectly criticized the Vice President's performance by
complaining about poor implementation by the line
ministries.

INSUFFICIENT CONSULTATION ABOUT LIQUOR REGULATIONS


4. (U) Ntuane again provoked controversy by tabling a
motion to hold in abeyance the introduction of new
regulations severely limiting sales of alcohol. The
regulations, which would have significantly scaled back the
hours of operation for bars, could have eliminated jobs at a
time when they are increasingly hard to find, he asserted.
A majority of parliamentarians from across party lines
rallied to support Ntuane, asserting that the rules were
drafted without sufficient consultation with various
stakeholders. Ultimately, the government backed down and
withdrew the regulations. (Comment: Many believe that
Khama, a staunch teetotaler, was behind the new regulations.
Although Khama voiced support for their adoption, the
government has denied that the proposed reforms originated
with him. Churches overwhelmingly favor them. End
comment.)

KHAMA CROSSES MPS OVER THEIR COMPENSATION


5. (U) During the final week of the parliamentary session,
the Vice President surprised many when he rose to comment on
a proposed bill to increase compensation to MPs. Khama
encouraged the parliamentarians to "exercise restraint" in
this matter, enumerated their various allowances and
observed that the people they represent would like to see
their own circumstances improve as well. Reportedly, he
completely disregarded efforts of other legislators to
intervene with points of clarification and, after yielding
the floor, left the Assembly. In a previous parliamentary
debate on the same subject, Khama had referred to MPs
seeking to increase their compensation as "vultures."


6. (U) The majority dissented with the Vice President and
supported the bill. MP and former cabinet minister Boyce
Sebetela rejected Khama's advice, pointing out that Khama
had expressed no such scruples when the government lavished
benefits upon him, such as an allowance for renovating his
house or free personal use of government-owned aircraft. He

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went on to attack Khama's consistent absence from the
National Assembly and refusal to engage other MPs in debate
as undemocratic.

KHAMA TO HOLD SERIES OF TOWN HALL MEETINGS


7. (U) The Vice President's Office announced that Khama
plans to attend a series of kgotla (a traditional village
assembly place akin to a town hall) meetings in each of
Botswana's parliamentary constituencies. This started with
recent visits to the remote Ngamiland and Tswapong areas.
Particularly in the light of past criticism of President
Mogae for preferring to travel abroad than to the kgotla,
this announcement appears to be one more measure to prepare
the Vice President for assuming the presidency on a strong
footing.


8. (U) The March 29 edition of the Botswana Gazette
contained a rare interview with Khama, in which he defended
his record as a parliamentarian and as the Vice President.
He deflected accusations of a dictatorial disposition and
emphasized instead the time he spends on constituent
services. He also confirmed that the government is
considering the creation of a national intelligence agency
(reftel).

COMMENT


9. (SBU) As the March 2008 succession date approaches, Vice
President Khama is gradually assuming a larger profile on
Botswana's political scene. The debate over the budget
highlighted some of the popular concerns about the Vice
President, e.g. lack of accountability and consultation with
parliament and the public, and sense of entitlement. The
fact that MPs of his own party did not shy away from open
disagreement with or even criticism of him shows the extent
to which democracy in Botswana is alive and well.
CANAVAN