Khama takes oath of office

GABORONE, Tuesday -- President Ian Khama was sworn in on Tuesday by Chief Justice Julian Nganunu to start his reign as Botswana’s ‘elected’ head of state after ruling under automatic succession since April last year.

President Khama led the ruling party to a landslide victory in elections held on Friday.

Up until he led the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) in power since independence from Britain in 1966 to victory, President Khama’s reign has been marred by the fact that he came to power via the controversial automatic succession route through which a vice-president completes the term of a president who cannot continue in office.

Because the Botswana president is not directly elected by the people and the vice-president is a nominee of such a president, there have been criticism even within the ruling party that automatic succession is undemocratic.
President Khama put the issue in perspective last Sunday when he said after his party won the elections that at times, he has doubted his mandate to lead Botswana given the way he came to power.
“I have been accused by some people, including some with me here just because I had ascended to the presidency through automatic succession. It made me doubt at times whether I am the rightful president of Botswana.
“Now I am proud that I am a legitimate president, because I am now in power through your votes. Now the people have spoken, you have given me the mandate...I can confidently announce to you that now you are going to see my actions... I am going to ensure that the public service deliver. I am going to ensure that your leadership deliver. I am going to push the public service and the party leadership to serve you diligently,” President Khama told a victory rally in Gaborone on Sunday.
In his swearing speech on Tuesday, he struck a conciliatory tone saying that while one party may have faired better than others, the overall outcome is more important, as it reflects the will of the people. “We are united in our knowledge that our collective aspirations and destiny as a people are far greater than the individual differences we have at party political level. Team work and collaboration will be crucial if we are to deliver to the expectations of Batswana,” he said.
“We must use this opportunity to count our blessings, and remember that many societies find peace and stability elusive which we take for granted; that horrendous atrocities have fallen upon many countries; and that economic ruin has resulted from poor governance which places sectarian interests ahead of national interest. We must forever remain vigilant and guard our treasure of democracy jealously,” he added.
President Khama took over last year from Mr Festus Mogae whom he served as vice-president for 10 years from 1998. The constitution allows President Khama to be in power till 2018 if the BDP wins again in next elections due in 2014.
After constitutional changes in 1997, the two five-year presidential terms in Botswana end 16 months before general elections to allow the vice-president to come to power automatic through automatic succession.