Unpacking Protocol and

There was an outcry not long ago when Batswana and people outside this country expressed concern at the treatment our Head of State was receiving from his protocol team when he was made to disembark from his Presidential aircraft onto a less than half a metre squared mini carpet placed at the foot of the plane.

It was and is still clear that most people expect to see our Head of State walking on a red carpet when he is going to board his State aircraft, and when he disembarks upon return from an external trip. Yes! It is clear that whenever the President or Head of State is moving red carpet treatment is always expected by many.

Before we even refer to the history of the Red Carpet which dates back to 458 BC, let us first explain typical situations where most Batswana will have seen our President or a visiting Head of State walking on a red carpet.

In November 2019, immediately after his swearing- in, the President inspected a guard of honour mounted by members of the Botswana Defence Force outside the University of Botswana Indoor Sports Arena. The President was walking on a red carpet, with a full guard of honour mounted for his inspection. A full guard of honour comprises a much bigger number of military personnel, in full ceremonial gear standing in files as the Head of State, accompanied by the Commander of the BDF, walks through in an immaculately arranged formation with marching sounds from the band going in synch with the movement.

This was a mark of respect by the military to recognise and honour the President as the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces. I highlight this point to explain that whenever the BDF mounts a guard of honour for the President, it is in recognition of his leadership role as Commander- in- Chief of the BDF. We have seen these full guards of honour mounted for the President during independence celebrations, when he is departing for a state visit to another country, when he returns from such state visits, and when he is presiding over a commissioning parade at the army headquarters.

A commissioning parade here refers to an army graduation ceremony. In all these cases a red carpet measuring 30 metres in length is rolled out to welcome the President. The Botswana Police and Prison Services also mount a guard of honour for the President whenever he is presiding over their annual events, such as Police Day or Prisons Day, and during pass outs parade to graduate newly qualified officers.

A Head of State or Government arriving in Botswana for a state visit will also be honoured with a full guard by the BDF. During a full guard of honour, the national anthem is played when the Head of State has finished walking through the Red Carpet and has reached the Dais. The Dais is an elevated platform where the Head of State accompanied by the Commander of the BDF, and where applicable, by a visiting Head of State or Government, will stand and face the troupes when the national anthem or anthems of the visiting and host countries are played.

There is also a mini guard of honour that may be mounted for our President or a visiting Head of State or Government.

This will involve a lesser number of military personnel standing on either side of the red carpet, and is usually positioned closer to the aircraft where the VVIP will disembark or embark. Instead of the 30 metres long red carpet used during a full guard of honour, a mini guard will use a 12 metres long carpet, while the length of the carpet used in a quarter guard will be 8 metres. The latter two will involve lesser numbers of military personnel than in a full guard. A mini or quarter guard may be mounted anytime to bid farewell, or to receive the Head of State when he returns from an external official working visit.

When our Head of State drops in on his counterpart in a neighbouring country for private talks, or vice- versa the host may use their discretion to instruct that a mini or quarter guard be mounted to welcome and see off the visitor. We have also witnessed mini guards of honour

mounted to welcome Heads of States or Government during the inauguration ceremony of the President in November 2019. Quarter guards were also mounted to welcome a number of Heads of States from the region when our President hosted the Elephant Summit that was held in Kasane in May 2019.

During these military guards of honour, only the Head of State and/ or his visiting counterpart and the Commander of the BDF ( or a designated senior military official) will walk on the red carpet. Likewise whenever a red carpet is rolled out to receive the Head of State at any function, be it a private or state function, no other person except the President and First Lady will be allowed to walk on the red carpet.

There have been a number of occasions where private entities have invited the Head of State to officiate at their functions, roll out the red carpet for him, and utter confusion unfolds when the President arrives regardless of prearrival preparations attempted by state protocol officers. We have seen media people, PR officers, security and board members of the hosting entity walking on the red carpet and this is procedurally very inappropriate.

Those ushering in guests at such functions are best advised to avoid walking them on the red carpet. It is important for the red carpet, which by the way is not mandatory at non state events, to be kept tidy until the Head of State and/ or First Lady arrive.

Let us now consider why there is this very tiny carpet that is usually placed at the foot of the Presidential aircraft for the President to step onto, whenever he is travelling locally or to non- state visits outside the country. There are two reasons. Number one, this mini carpet is simply intended as a courtesy to recognise the stature of the principal passenger in the absence of a quarter, mini or full guard of honour mounted by military personnel. Number two, the size of the carpet makes it easier for the crew members to carry onboard and offload quick and easy whenever the aircraft lands.

Now for the history of the Red Carpet; according to historical records it dates back to 458 BC when the ancient Greeks believed only Gods could walk on red surfaces sprinkled with red flowers. It later came to be associated with walkways for Heads of States, royal guests and VVIPs during formal and ceremonial occasions. After 458 BC the other earliest documented history of a red carpet being rolled out for a Head of State dates back to 1821 when it was used to welcome the 5th President of the United States, James Munroe in Georgetown, South Carolina, as he disembarked from his riverboat.

As many of us will be aware the red carpet is now associated with wealth, prestige and influence. That is why it is rolled out to welcome film, music, sports and fashion personalities during ceremonies such as the Oscars, Grammy Awards, FIFA Best Players, as well as for Bishops at special religious ceremonies.

While the red carpet treatment is accorded these personalities to separate them from the mere mortals, we have seen some ordinary folks use the red carpet to add colour at their wedding ceremonies in a spectacular display of pride and opulence. Not all of these other extra- ordinary red carpet treatments use the original red colour. In State and Diplomatic Protocol the original red colour is always used. In politics and diplomacy the colour red has been associated with power and influence while some also identify it with revolutionary credentials.