Khama on re-election campaign
2009-10-11 19:08
Gaborone - President Ian Khama on Sunday called for the re-election of his ruling party this week, promising a continuation of good governance that has made diamond-rich Botswana a shining example in Africa.
"The party has been in power for the last 43 years and the results are there for all to see that the country has been in good hands," Khama said at the final campaign rally of the Botswana Democratic Party in the capital Gaborone.
Botswana holds parliamentary elections on Friday, and a ruling party win will hand Khama the presidency as lawmakers elect the president.
The 56-year-old son of the country's founding father is facing his first election after automatically assuming power when his predecessor Festus Mogae stepped down in April last year following a decade in office.
Everyone decerves dignity
"When I came into power on April 1 2008 I spoke of dignity amongst other principles that I wanted to base my leadership on," Khama told the crowd of about 400 people, a typically small turnout for political rallies in the southern African nation.
"Each and every one of you deserves a dignified life and I am sure you can agree with me that as a party we have tried our best to provide a decent life for all and we will continue doing that if you vote us back into power."
The crowd was a sea of red, one of the party colours, waving flags, dancing and ululating with joy as they awaited Khama, who remains hugely popular despite growing unease over his leadership style.
His party has been wracked by bitter spats and factionalism ahead of the poll on Friday, attributed to the authoritarian leadership of the former commander of the Botswana Defence Force.
Botswana is consistently rated one of the best governed countries in Africa, hailed for skilfully managing its natural resources and avoiding the conflict and corruption that have plagued many nations on the continent.
Over 700 000 people of a population of 1.7 million have registered to vote in the landlocked country, which is the world's largest diamond producer and has been hard-hit by the economic crisis.
The BDP has governed since independence in 1966 and is expected to sail to victory with little contest from a weak opposition.
- SAPA