The 2014 Botswana general elections have all the signs of a highly competitive race, As we write political party candidate launches are reported thick and fast on Btv. Gabz FM election candidates debates boycotted by the ruling party, as a reported strategy to win the imminent elections, baffling as it is, keeps radio listeners glued to their radio sets. Only the oldies with the one-band radios distributed by Rraetsho President Khama to catch general elections commentaries only on Radio Botswana, are excluded from scrambling for the 6 -8 pm direct listening of the Gabz FM debate! The poor oldies are enslaved by design of the ruling party propaganda; poor things, they must hear only what Rraetsho wants them to hear!
Quite bewildered and confounded by the alleged BDP strategy, not just to win elections (but win the 57 constituencies) but by boycotting debates organised by Gabz FM in conjunction with the American Embassy, supported by the British High Commission, Europcar and Botswana Federation of Public Service Union (BOFEPUSU). The boycott of debates to me, looks not only like abject surrender to the opposition, but a big disappointment to the sponsors and supporters of the programme who previously must have thought highly of the BDP standard of democratic commitment. Democracy, the government of the people by the people for the people, promoted by our mentors in the US and the UK , having been previously in the forefront of the western democracies who have declared Botswana a shining example of democracy in Africa, and applauded every short step taken by Botswana as demonstrating her undeviating commitment to the democratic process judged deficient in the rest of the African countries must be hugely disappointed. What will they now think of the BDP which denies and withdraws its candidates from democratic debate? Ag shame!
