Page of horror

The "Opinion/Analysis" page in the Telegraph newspaper of July 13 is, in my opinion a piece of horror; not because of Sonny Serite's excellently written appeal for support for the Botswana candidate to the position of Chairman of African Union Commission; not because the said candidate, Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi, is facing a tough battle from other contenders; but rather because in spite of such a desperate need for national unity in our country at this time, the paper has chosen to include on the same page a most reactionary appeal by Professor Thapelo Otlogetswe, titled "Why Setswana must be made Botswana's official language".

I read through Serite's appeal before scanning the page to Otlogetswe's column. When I reached the end of Serite's article, I felt that he had "spoken" for me. Then my eyes scanned past Ma-Moitoi's picture and across to Otlogetswe's article. At this time I would rather not describe how I felt. Suffice it to say that I caught myself wondering aloud "Is this what her chairmanship of the African Union Commission will  strive to achieve for my country?".

At the end of the vote for African Union Chairman, I wonder if Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi will consider Professor Otlogetswe's article to have been a help or a hindrance.