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cowsLf cowsLf REGISTERED WITH THE DIRECTOR OF POSTS AND TELEGRAPHS AS A NEWSPAPER For your PRINTING and STATIONERY BECHUANALAND PRESS (Pty.) Ltd. P.O. Box 64 Mafeking PRICE Ic Volume II No. 3 Organ of the Bechuanaland Democratic Party MARCH, 1964 OVER SIXTY PUBLIC MEETINGS BY B.D.P. EXECUTIVE IN FEBRUARY HREE MEMBERS of the Bechuanaland Democratic Executive addressed over 60 public meetings in less than three weeks in February. They were Messrs. Tsoebebe, Dambe and Masire. Of the over 60 meetings only one was not well attended at a coloured settlement, Kanagasi, about 100 miles south west of Ghanzi and 500 miles west of Lobatsi. The only meeting at which the B.P.P. tried to hackle was MR. DAVID MAGANE * Magang is the. former Secretary General of the Bechuanaland Situdents Association. He is now the Secretary General of Bechuanaland Overseas Students Union (BOSU). He is indeed a primary young man. *, (See Page Six) at Seleka some 50 miles east of Palapye, only to be booed down. Otherwise at all meetings the atmosphere was 100% B.D.P. MASIRE ADDRESSES 24 MEETINGS From February 7th to 23rd Mr. Q. K. J. Masire travelled 2,070 miles and addressed 24 meetings, 17 in the Kalahari and 7 in the Tsabong Areas. KALAHARI MEETINGS In the Kalahari meetings were held at the following places, Tswenynane, Lofhoko, Maokane, Sekoma, Mabutsane, Morwamusu, Kang, Hu kuntsi, Lokgwebe, Tshane, Lefututu. Nojane, Makunda, Kanagasi, Karakubis, Kalkfontein and Ghanzi. At Ghanzi Masire received the news that the President of the Party Mr. Seretse Khama was seriously ill at Francistown. He went via Sehithwa and Maun to reach Francistown. After 33 hours of continuous travelling he came to the end of over 500 miles journey, 200 miles of which was muddy, sandy and rugged road. SERETSE FAILED TO ADDRESS 11 VILLAGES When Mr Khama fell ill he was due to address meetings in Tsabong areas the following week. So when Mr. Masire found him better, he passed on to address those villages. He managed to address them all at 7 meetings. The seven meetings were held at Maunatlala, Seolwane, Lerale, Sefare, Mokobeng, Seleka and Ratholo. MR. TSOEBEBE Mr. Tsoebebe's tour started with a meeting at Mahalapye on the 8th and ended with a meeting at Morwa on the 22nd. In a report to the Executive Mr. Tsoebebe described all the 18 meetings he -addressed as a wonderfull success. He addressed meetings at the following places: Mahalapye, Mabalane, Sikwane, Malolwane, Mathubudukwane, Oodi, Gabane, Kumakwane, Mmankgodi, Thamaga, Kubung, Letlhakeng, Takatokwane, Motokwe, Dutlwe, Ditshegwane, Molepolole and Morwa. MR. DAMBE From the beginning of February to the 22nd when I last contacted him he had addressed over 20 meetings in the Bobirwa and Bokalaka. BRANCH PUBLIC MEETINGS In addition to these meetings there were several public meetings held on the initiative of branches of the B.D.P. B.D.P. MESSAGE The B.D.P. message to the B.P. public is of elemental nature. The popular line of attack is a rapid resume of events from when protection was sought to the time when it will be withdrawn, pointing out that we are at beginning and bringing as an unavoidable conclusion the fact that we must form our government to take over from the government of the British officials and posing the B.D.P. as our solution to the problem, which in fact is no joke for the B.D.P. is the hope of Bechuanaland. Then we plunge into the whole question of electoral procedure and all that goes with it, from the census to the formation of a government. NO DOUBT There is no doubt that the B.D.P. is going ahead. Tsholetsa Domgrag! Mr. David Magang is doing C.C.E. in London after which he intends doing law. PAGE 2 TIIERISANYO - CONSULTATION MARCH~ 1964 The Evolution of African Politics By R. N. Monnathoko. President B.O.S.U. In this article I would like to deal very breifly with the effects of politics in Africa during the last decade and the consequences of the changes that occurred and likely to continue in the forseable future. CONFUSION IN THE MIXED BAG The outstanding paradox of politics in Africa is the realisation of the rise of nationalism which to date has not settled down to a definite dictionary meaning or a deft nition of sufficient clarity because of the mixed bag of tribalism, multiracialism, party political feeling, world pressure and economic difficulties. Perhaps, we could make a start by saying that after the last world war, Africans all of a sudden became inspired with the idea of ruling their. own. countries and towards this goal pressure was brought to hear on the European colonists. GREATER DIFFICULTIES LIE AHEAD The task by historical comparisons has been achieved in a remarkably short time indeed, but that is not the end of the road by any means. Greater difficulties now face us squarely and an entirely different talent is required of the political leaders. BEFORE PRE-INDEPENDENCE ERA Before I detail what difficulties face us, and what new talent is required, I would like to state in breif those factors which helped to achieve political independence in such a short period of history. During the last war (1939-1945) Africans were soldiers and fought side by side with people of other races. They helped to win the war. They were made to understand that they were fighting for their freedom, liberty and self determination in their own respective territories. They, however, realised after the war had been won that things had gone to what they were before the war: they had no jobs, those of them who had jobs were paid only a fraction of Whiteman's salary, and the jobs they did were not responsible ones, that is to say, these jobs gave them no power and no African was ever senior to a Whiteman whatever his qualifications. The position improved a little and some Africans were promoted to higher salaries but not handed over administration power to employ and dismiss nor were they invited to discuss matters of policy in their own departments. THE PIONEER AFRICAN POLITICIAN The pioneer African politician The audiences were later made into political parties. All this was very easy because all the politicians needed was to have the art of tabulating all the grievances to his audience. The grievances were of course true and did hurt the aggrieved Africana and brought a sense of guilt to the whitemen. In several countries independence was achieved quickly as a result of those com- plaints. Ai I said earlier, it was easy because to make complaints does not require any intelligence. Even a mad man, does make com. plaints. The problem of African politics is that some of tsese people who are very good at bringing out complaint cannot do anything else be cause they have no idea of what next to do, but their people who used to listen to them blaming the White. men, chiefs. the rich Africans and the educated Africans do in fact expect them to provide the heaven promised at those meetings. Our difficulties, therefore is what do we do with these politicians whose job was to complain and now are completely uniquipped to lead the country after independence.. THE QUESTION AT BECHUANALAND'S DOOR The question is already at ybur door in Bechuanaland, for we are no exception. We fully admire the bravery and art displayed by all these African politicians whereever they may be, but we certainly cannot givethem prizes as if it were a sports competition. They have to remember that their is an honourable job for which there is no individual reward. They should be satisfied with the idea of having pioneered political awakeness and achieved independence. This is the prize of politics and let's face it. If we are not prepared to face the facts * Continued on Page I Phone Ill Lobulsi P.O. Box 85 Lobatsi Pharmacy (Pty.) Ltd. PATENT MEDICINES - VETERINARY REMEDIES EYE TEST AND SPECTACLES SUPPLIED PHARMACEUTICALS AND TOILETRIES WE CORDIALLY INVITE YOUR MAIL ORDER FANCY GOODS ENQUIRIES WHICH RECEIVE SPECIAL AND DISPENSING OPTIMETRISTS PROMPT ATTENTION Lobatsi MARCK 1964 PAGE 2 THERISANYO - CONSULTATION SP-0. Box as Phone I I DEMOCRACY IN EDUCATION - By Anthony P. Moapare - DEMOCRATIC IN FORM A talk of the day by man in the street is in tone with -the demands of the period. The changing of segregational school system to a nonracial system of education has improved his vocabulary. He speaks of "democracy in education", or "democratization of education in Bechuanaland". That the form has changed is all that matters to him. DEMOCRATIC IN SIJBSTANCE To the intellectual democracy in education goes further than the mere attending of a non-racial school. to him democracy in education is a challenge. It is a subtle challenge. It means that the very substance of education should be democratically consieved. It means that young men and women should be instructed and trained to be disposed to participate readily in community affairs, to labour for the promotion of the commoon good and welfare and to share with others the benefits derived from the society's resources. AND TO TAKE PART IN CONTINUED STRIVING In short true democratic education equips the child to freely and effectively take part in the continued striving of the people, individually or colleteively towards democratic living in accordance with true democratic principles. The promotion and perpetuation of this ideal is the fundamental secondary objective of the education process, the primary being the attainment of the end for which man was created.