“Our position hasn’t changed if the government maintains the same attitude. Once there are positive developments, we are willing to attend this important political forum,” asserted Botswana National Front (BNF) publicity secretary, Moeti Mohwasa, adding that whatever decisions that they will come up with, will help reform the electoral process as that is what they wish to see happening.
His view was that democracy does not start and end with the elections. The BNF believes that as a party, they should be partners with the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) on matters of national interest, rather than being used as a pawn to rubber stamp some of the decisions of the government. “Winning the general elections does not mean that the government can do as it wishes. A structure that could be used as a powerful tool to enhance democracy has been rendered useless,” he said referring to the All-Party Conference.
Mohwasa argued that the all-party conference should not be treated just like a social gathering. He indicated that in the past, opposition made suggestions and recommendations in a bid to enhance the electoral system. These overtures, he claimed, were not taken seriously. “At this stage, we need to be convinced otherwise. Until we are convinced that there is a change of attitude, then we maintain our position of boycotting the All-Party Conference.”
Opposition parties of BNF, Botswana Congress Party (BCP), Botswana People’s Party (BPP) and Botswana Alliance Movement (BAM) are some of the opposition parties that walked out of the conference citing failure to debate electoral reforms as their main reasons. Amongst the proposed reforms, opposition parties had advocated for all-party funding, a varied electoral system they have been hinting at proportional representation, from the current winner takes all of the First-Past The-Post. Realising that the ruling party government was not ready to budge, opposition party’s representatives at the forum walked out in protest.
Botswana Congress Party (BCP) publicity secretary, Dumelang Saleshando echoed similar sentiments raised by Mohwasa. “We are willing to participate in the important forum provided the government reverts to the original idea of considering us as stakeholders,” said Saleshando.
He accused President Festus Mogae of having allowed the all-party forum to degenerate into a social gathering, a disorderly situation he said only profits the ruling BDP.
“If the original idea is reinstated, then we are ready to talk. We were forced to walk out of the last conference because of the attitude of the then Presidential Affairs Minister, Daniel Kwelagobe, who was not ready to listen to our demands as the opposition.”
He observed that looking at the previous minutes of the conferences, it reflects that there has not been any progress as some issues have been tackled again and again without any help. “Progress on the forum business depends on the minister in office, if he is averse to change then nothing moves. If the minister is content with change, then things become a bit smooth for discussions,” he said.
BPP publicity secretary, Motlatsi Mbanga pointed out that since the last conference held in Gaborone, there has not been any communication from the Office of the President. “We have never received any correspondence from the OP and it is showing that the powers that be, are reluctant to simply communicate,” said the worried Mbanga.
“Otherwise, if there is nothing that we perceive as progress, then we maintain our position. We view the forum as very important. We may not have done anything but deep down, we know we are being denied an opportunity to reform the electoral system,” he said.
Stating the position of the government yesterday, Presidential Affairs Minister, Phandu Skelemani explained that there is no provision in the Constitution that empowers the All-Party Conference to discuss issues of electoral reform. “The Constitution does not prohibit the forum from discussing issues of electoral reform, but it has no provision at all. The one that is covered in the Constitution relates to the appointment of Commissioners of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC),” Skelemani explained.
He however, stressed that if political parties do not meet, that will deny them an opportunity to state their views on pertinent issues.
“We want to prepare for the forum provided we can agree. It is quite urgent that we meet,” he told Mmegi adding that planning for meetings can only be done after the budget session of the National Assembly.
