Botswana: President Ian Khama’s quest for a first lady

Botswana President Ian Nkama

Botswana President Ian Khama’s continued bachelor status is now increasingly worrying his countrymen and members of his own political party-Botswana Democratic Party (BDP).

Party leaders have since registered their concern and initiated a move to hunt for a suitable first lady.

Reports from the diamond rich southern African country indicate that during a party gathering on November 15 one brave former cabinet minister, Kebatlamang Morake asked Khama when he would marry.

Giving an impression that the whole scene was stage managed, Khama responded by saying “For your information, I want a woman who is tall, slim and good looking" reports say.

"You are guilty of ridiculing the President. The best that you should do is to go all out and look for the woman that you prefer for me as I hardly have time to hunt for a woman who will become my wife" Khama is quoted saying.

Vice President, Mompati Merafhe later told the gathering that his several attempts to remind Khama to marry hit a brick wall.

"I don’t think there is anything else that I can do for now because I did my very best during our days at the barracks to remind my boss to marry without success,"

Khama was a few years ago previously engaged to a Gaborone dentist, Dr Nomsa Mbere. Arrangements had been made for their marriage with the exception of a wedding date. But, all came to an abrupt end when Khama’s mother, Lady Ruth Khama died.

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A US Attorney Jailed in Rwanda Jailed in Rwanda Peter Erlinder briefly hospitalized

Jailed in Rwanda, attorney Peter Erlinder briefly hospitalized

Erlinder has high blood pressure
By Mara H. Gottfried
mgottfried@pioneerpress.com
Updated: 06/01/2010 04:58:38 PM CDT

Peter Erlinder, law professor
Peter Erlinder (Raoul Benavides)

A St. Paul attorney jailed in Rwanda was hospitalized with high blood pressure Monday after being interrogated, according to his daughter and an attorney.

Peter Erlinder, who is charged with promoting genocidal ideology, is expected to be kept in the hospital overnight and returned to jail today, said Sarah Erlinder, his daughter.

The hospitalization came after Erlinder was interrogated for up to five hours Monday, said Gena Berglund, associate director of the International Humanitarian Law Institute of Minnesota. She said she didn't know how much of that time Erlinder had spent meeting with his attorneys. "Toward the end of the five hours, Peter said he was not feeling well and asked to see a doctor," Berglund said. "He was transported to the hospital."

Peter Erlinder, a faculty member at William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, is in Rwanda to help defend presidential hopeful Victoire Ingabire against charges of promoting genocidal ideology. Ingabire, an opposition candidate, was arrested earlier this year.

Erlinder was arrested on charges of genocide denial Friday, after he warned that he might be targeted by the government of President Paul Kagame.

Sarah Erlinder said an American attorney in Rwanda, who hasn't been allowed to represent her father, called her Monday morning to report the medical problems. In an interview Monday night, she said she had recently received word from U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar's office that the hospital wasn't "able
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to find anything seriously wrong with him."

"His high blood pressure seems to have been aggravated, which isn't surprising given the situation," she said.

Rwandan officials had blocked lawyers Sunday from visiting Erlinder. Two Kenyan attorneys and a Rwandan attorney were able to see him Monday, Berglund said.

Sarah Erlinder, of Flagstaff, Ariz., said she and other family members plan to travel to Washington, D.C., this week and hope to arrange a meeting with the U.S. State Department.

"It's becoming clear to everyone that this was a wrongful arrest, and the law he's arrested for violating is a very repressive law," Berglund said.

Klobuchar, D-Minn., said Monday night that "we're continuing to work to make sure he's treated fairly and get this done as quickly as possible so he can go home."

US says Rwanda restricting freedoms ahead of poll

The US government has accused the Rwandan authorities of taking "worrying actions" to restrict freedom of expression ahead of the August 9 presidential poll, the State Department website said.

"The political environment ahead of the election has been riddled by a series of worrying actions taken by the Government of Rwanda, which appear to be attempts to restrict the freedom of expression," US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson was quoted as saying.

Carson made the remarks on Tuesday while addressing a house committee in Washington.

"In a period of months, the Government of Rwanda has suspended two newspapers, revoked the work permit and denied the visa of a Human Rights Watch researcher, and arrested (and subsequently released on bail) opposition leader Victoire Ingabire," Carson said.

He went on to say that despite several attempts, two political parties, the Green party and the FDU (Unified Democratic Forces, led by Victoire Ingabire) "have still not been able to register".

He also noted "dissensions" within the ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), headed by President Paul Kagame.

"We have relayed our concerns about these developments to the Government of Rwanda, urging senior government leaders to respect freedoms of expression, press, association, and assembly," Carson went on.

"In particular, we have pressed leaders to allow all international and domestic non-governmental organizations and media to operate and report freely," he said.

Washington also asked Rwanda "to treat Victoire Ingabire in accordance with international law, ensure due process, and give her a speedy, fair, and transparent trial".

"We have urged the Government of Rwanda and all regional and international partners to work together to achieve free, fair, and peaceful elections that the people of Rwanda deserve," Carson went on.

"We appreciate, in the context of the most tragic event in recent history -the genocide - the need for security, stability, and reconciliation is critical. But long-term stability is best promoted by democratic governance and respect for human rights," Carson said.

So far two candidates from registered parties have been declared for the August election: the incumbent president and Jean Damascene Ntawukuriyayo of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), a grouping that has traditionally been allied to Kagame's RPF.