VZCZCXRO3922
RR RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR
DE RUEHOR #0478/01 0960513
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 060513Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY GABORONE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3108
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RHMFIUU/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 GABORONE 000478 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
AF/S for Muncy 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV BC
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 
 
GABORONE 00000478  002 OF 002 
 
 
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