Francistown, BOTSWANA:
The Government of the Republic of Botswana wishes to express her concern regarding the disturbing trend, whereby some political leaders refuse to relinquish power when their term of Office expires.
These leaders have now resorted to measures such as delaying holding of elections, or amending their national constitutions to effectively extend their term of Office.
It is clear that such leaders are driven by self-interest, instead of those of the people they govern. The Democratic Republic of Congo is a case in point.
We continue to witness a worsening humanitarian situation in that country mainly because its leader has persistently delayed the holding of elections, and has lost control over the security of his country.
Botswana therefore, urges the International community to put more pressure on the leadership in the Democratic Republic of Congo to relinquish power and pave way for the ushering in of a new political dispensation.
Botswana’s President Ian Khama has criticised the leader of the Democratic Republic of Congo for postponing elections in his country.
President Khama, who leaves office in March, urged his counterpart Joseph Kabila to respect the central African country’s constitution.
Mr Khama was speaking on Friday at a farewell ceremony in Francistown, about 430km northeast of the capital Gaborone.
“Amending the constitution should be the will of the citizens not a single person,” he was quoted as saying by The Patriot newspaper.
President Kabila, 46, has been in power since 2001. His constitutional term in office expired in December 2016. Following a deal brokered by the Catholic Church, Mr Kabila agreed that new elections would be held by the end of 2017.
But the Congolese government last year postponed the vote until December 28, 2018 citing logistical challenges.
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