Dear Observers!

Mmegi Editor | Friday October 10, 2014 17:33

The South African minister of International Relations, Maite Nkoana Mashabane is scheduled to launch the observer mission this morning, and thereafter lead it until after the October 24 elections.

The observers come at a time when the atmosphere is pregnant with anxiety, flaring tempers, and suspicions of election rigging by the ruling party.

It is our expectation that the observers will be spread across the country, deep into rural areas, where they will see for themselves the true picture of this country’s economy, lack of understanding of electoral processes, as well as peddling of lies by politicians.

They will see first-hand information how the country is starved of alternating views, alternative access to information, and the thirst for such views.

For opposition politicians, this is the opportunity to prove to the outside world that the ruling party abuses state resources for its benefit, whilst it is time for the latter to show the world that the opposition are a bunch of spoilt brats.

However, the truth of the matter is that like many countries in the African continent, Botswana is no exception and the government is using state resources to campaign in this election.

Dear Observers, as you read this piece, the President flew to Maun this morning, either in his presidential helicopter, Botswana Defence Force airplane, or government vehicle with his party campaign team.

We can assure you that he will be featured in the state television news at least three times, whilst his opponents will get less than 30 seconds coverage. He will also feature on the government’s newspaper’s front page ridiculing his opponents, whilst they are not afforded even a quarter page.

We hope that as impartial observers, you will, at the end of your mission, share your experiences with the nation and the world on what you saw, what you think, and what should be done. Other observers have come before you, they found that the elections here are free, but not fair in that the playing field is not level.

Opposition parties have to dig deeper into their pockets to do their campaigns, whilst the ruling party enjoys using state resources without limit.

Those who came before you, made recommendations, such as state funding for political parties, which fell on deaf ears for the last 10 elections. Welcome and enjoy our politics.

Today’s thought

“Maintain democracy or go to dictatorship: that is what is at stake in these elections.” – Mario Vargas Llosa