Veterans weigh in on the deteriorating levels of political discourse
TSAONE BASIMANEBOTLHE | Monday February 23, 2026 06:09
Rather than engaging in constructive debates that focus on policy solutions, many politicians are now prone to insults, personal attacks, and inflammatory rhetoric. The shift from nuanced, issue-based discussions to divisive, emotional appeals is alarming.
Where there were once considered debates that encouraged thoughtful decision-making, there is now a trend of cheap politicking that serves no purpose but sows division.
Now, political parties are left with sizeable members who can debate political issues with substance and who understand their political parties well, including the constitution, ideology and its culture. Rather, the parties are invaded by new members who do not have the party at heart but instead join it for tenders, fame and party positions.
In the past, political figures such as the late Dr Elmon Tafa, Ponatshego Kedikilwe, Gilson Saleshando, Daniel Kwelagobe, and Otsweletse Moupo were seen as paragons of what politics should aspire to be.
This did not stop as parties produced seasoned politicians like President Duma Boko, Botsalo Ntuane, the late Gomolemo Motswaledi, Dumelang Saleshando, Nelson Ramaotwana, Wynter Mmolotsi, Noah Salakae, and Motsamai Motsamai, who still serve that purpose.
Back then, the youth leagues used to be the backbone of the parties, and they were groomed to be party leaders from a young age, especially when the majority of them were at the University of Botswana through GS26 and Mass-BNF. Now, common structures at UB are Moono, GS26 and UBCD-BCP.
Before, political parties used rallies, emphasised on political education, but these have become things of the past. Now, the political rallies have become common only during election cycle. Politicians’ public appearances at rallies, media engagements, and even within the confines of Parliament were marked by the kind of civil discourse that took into account both the facts and the national interest.
They engaged in debates with a level of respect and intellectual rigor that defined the art of politics. Research-driven arguments and reasoned discussions were the norm, and while disagreements were inevitable, they were handled with professionalism and an eye on finding common ground. The public was encouraged to think critically about policies, to question their leaders, and to engage with ideas that shaped the country’s future.
Fast forward to today, and the political landscape has shifted dramatically. Rather than witnessing informed arguments, Batswana are often subjected to petty squabbles and personal attacks that dominate modern political life.
Politicians, instead of offering solutions to the pressing issues of the day, have increasingly turned to inflammatory rhetoric designed to undermine their opponents instead of solving problems.
Commenting on the matter, Moupo, who is a former BNF president and ex-MP, observed that the standard of debate has gone down. “The debate nowadays is not about substance. This is discouraging and as veterans, we no longer want to comment because we do not want to be insulted. Political education is important because it tarnishes the image of political parties. There are no engagements, level of discussion is also not good. Party leaders must talk to their members so that they groom good leaders.”
Kwelagobe, former BDP MP and ex-minister, said the quality of political debates is not impressive at all. “Even freedom squares are also not there, and ordinary people no longer get messages from the parties. That also contributes to debate, because messages from political parties are important and what they believe in,” he stated.
However, Kwelagobe has observed that only debates in Parliament have improved and its standard. He said the problem is debates on social media from different political members and new ones.
Veteran politician, Stephen Makhura, also shared the same sentiments.
He, however, noted that, “political parties need robust youth leagues who can debate with substance. The problem is that parties have now ignored their ideologies because they believe they are no longer relevant but that helped to know what political parties believe. Again, there is a lack of tolerance, unlike before, which we used to pride ourselves on, as a country”.
Makhura said the problem is that political parties are now hijacked by people who do not love them but are in it for power and money.
On the other hand, political commentator Motlhabane Emang Maphanyane said political culture has downgraded and the standard of debates has also gone down.
“That is why we have a situation where you find politicians influencing decisions for professionals, and people not being appointed on merits at the government level but rather on cadre appointments, which is dangerous for a country,” he said.
“The reason why political debates have gone down is that people do not take research seriously and are not informed on policy issues. Batswana used to believe in merits, look at how things are from years back. These have affected even the economy of the country.”
He said the loss of respectful dialogue and the embrace of conflict-driven discourse has undermined the very foundations of political engagement. Furthermore, he said this shift has created an environment where the focus is no longer on policies, national development, or the welfare of citizens. Instead, Maphanyane said they see a political class obsessed with personal vendettas and gaining an advantage over one another, regardless of the cost to the nation. “One of the most striking developments has been the rise of ‘political celebrities’ on social media. These influencers with their massive online followings have come to dominate the political landscape, often eclipsing the traditional political figures who once held sway over national discourse,” Maphanyane added. However, he said, unlike their predecessors, who were grounded in policy discussions and research, these new-age political figures are often more concerned with generating clicks, followers, and sensational headlines than with contributing substance to the conversation.
According to Maphanyane, in many cases, they use their platforms to spread misinformation and disinformation, launching personal attacks on opponents without offering any thoughtful critique or reasoned analysis.
This has turned social media from a tool for informed political discourse into a breeding ground for divisiveness. In addition, he said social media platforms, with their instantaneous nature and wide-reaching audience, are part of the problem. Meanwhile, Mmegi has observed that this trend is not unique to Botswana. In fact, it is part of a larger global phenomenon.
In the United States of America, for example, the political divide between Republicans and Democrats has become so extreme that debate often degenerates into name-calling and unfounded accusations. Rather than engaging with policy issues, much of the political discourse is focused on personal attacks and ideological warfare.
In South Africa, the political environment has similarly become characterised by increasingly polarised language, with political leaders more often focused on discrediting their opponents than addressing the needs of the nation.
A particularly troubling example of the decline in political discourse is the weaponisation of personal and national tragedies for political gain. In Botswana, we have seen politicians exploit sensitive issues like the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and the tragic death of a child for the sake of attacking their rivals.
Instead of offering solutions or showing empathy for those affected, some politicians have used these crises as platforms for political posturing.
During the FMD outbreak, for instance, one politician used the situation to spread misinformation about the government’s handling of the crisis, with little regard for the public’s need for accurate information. Similarly, the funeral of a child became the backdrop for a political attack, further underscoring the lack of sensitivity and decency in the current political climate. This is not just a matter of political rivalry; it is a fundamental failure of leadership. The consequences of this deterioration in political discourse are also evident in the growing disconnect between the political class and the public.