Peaceful Elections

Monitor Editor | Monday October 27, 2014 17:08

The voters behaved well. The security organs of state were there to maintain law and order and ensure the smooth running of the election process. Where the overzealous crowd threatened the peace and tranquillity of the day as it nearly happened at Phase IV in Gaborone, Ramotswa, or Francistown, the police used minimum force to maintain the peace. This year’s elections were expected to be the most tense, and possibly violent. Yet the passion and determination of Batswana to vote and effect change could be felt during the morning.

They woke up early and were at the polling stations as early as 5am, ready to exercise their rights.

The elections themselves produced fire works, to say the least. From the tumbling of cabinet ministers like Kitso Mokaila and Jonny Swartz, to the end of the Daniel Kwelagobe’s political career- someone who is known as the soul of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) and the shattering of the dreams of the Botswana Congress party (BCP), the unexpected magnificent showing by the UDC, the turn out by the youths.

The effects of this year’s election results will be felt for a long time. We will be discussing them, especially throughout this week;. Topics of discussion that many will  address include; whether Saleshando and the BCPs the fall was inevitable, if the showing by the UDC was a fluke, and so many other elements of this year’s General Elections.

We hope the peaceful climate will continue as we prepare to usher in new winners from both the ruling Party and the opposition this Wednesday.

President Ian Khama will be sworn in this Tuesday as the next President of Botswana for the next five years.

We await with anticipation the new cabinet and new vice president, but above all Batswana expect nothing less than delivery on the part of government to transform their lives. Many may have voted for the opposition, more than ever before, but equally many have also endorsed the BDP and President Khama to transform their lives.

For the 17 UDC MPs, do not forget that that Batswana are not naïve; they can have their final say through the ballot, as they have shown today.