Fragmented opposition weakens democracy
Adam Mfundisi | Monday January 23, 2023 06:00
I have stated in the past that the road to building and consolidating a coalition is a tall order.
Best practices in coalition politics reflect, among others, equitable partnership, compromises, mutual respect and humility, effective leadership, shared communication.
My considered view is that competitive elections premised on freeness, fairness, credibility, accountability, democracy, and transparency are more important than the number of political players.
The Umbrella for Democracy (UDC) participated in two elections but lost in both. We need to review the Constitution and the electoral process to make our elections more competitive. I posit that even the ruling party will face the same predicament when it becomes an opposition party. It will not be able to form a viable coalition with other opposition parties.
Opposition parties are in a precarious environment in that Botswana government dominates all the commanding heights of the economy and thereby control society and polity with immunity and impunity.
The ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) make public policies to promote its own interests thereby entrenching itself in power. Civil society organisations must actively participate in the affairs of their country.
We need a strong civil society to challenge the undemocratic rule of the BDP. Elections in Botswana may be free but they are not fair, credible, verifiable, democratic, and accountable.
The last elections certified that through marathon of election petitions alleging electoral fraud and rigging. The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) in Botswana is an instrument of the government and the ruling party pursuing the interests of the party in power. The IEC is not an independent electoral body.
The government, particularly the Executive (President) controls the operations and administration of the IEC.
There are no permanent IEC commissioners appointed through democratic processes to ensure independence and autonomy. The administration of elections is most done at constituency levels by political appointees namely, District Commissioners, who are accountable to the President and ministers. The IEC does not have adequate permanent staff dealing with electoral matters.
Deployees of the government and the BDP control the process and the outcome of the electoral process. The BDP under President Mokgweetsi Masisi is the weakest in its history. Numerous scandals, corruption and maladministration have rocked government. Public confidence and trust on government and the BDP are at their lowest ebb.
The country had a golden opportunity to review the Constitution to pave way for a home-grown Constitution driven by the people not an individual or institution. As usual, the BDP and its leadership decided to scuffle the process by instituting a Commission of Inquiry, which is not suitable or desirable for the nation's Constitution order.
A Constitution process must be inclusive, participative, collaborative, cooperative and not manipulated by anybody or institution. A people-centred Constitution is required to level the political playing arena. Currently, the BDP is the only party against the funding of political parties because it is itself financed overtly and covertly by public money.
The incumbency factor is the critical reason for the BDP continued dominance. That’s why one of unelected MPs is advocating the banning of foreign funding for political parties, which aims at stifling funding for opposition parties. Opposition parties have been sacrificing a lot to fund our democracy and the general population is unappreciative.
Leaders spend their hard-earned money to drive the opposition agenda. And the BDP uses State resources, institutions, processes, and personnel to campaign in elections.
The 2019 General Elections exposed this unethical and accountable behaviour of the BDP and its leadership. The use of the Sate machinery, the Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS), Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC), the police, the Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS), the Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana (CAAB,) and others to harass, intimidate, cajole, investigate and prosecute opposition leaders and supporters was legendary. The abuse of State air assets by the President and VP for BDP campaigns and concomitant denial of the same to opposition leaders. Worse, the UDC’s own hired air assets were denied, controlled, monitored and exorbitant charges levied for use.
The BURS, for the first time in the history of politics in Botswana, was deployed to undermine the credibility and integrity of the UDC leadership especially Duma Gideon Boko. Political propaganda pursued through infamous government (BDP) media was legendary. Even some sections of the private media were roped in to write and air fake news undermining opposition parties and their leaders.
*ADAM MFUNDISI is University of Botswana (UB) lecturer in politics and administrative studies.