Batswana shun specially elected cllrs
Oarabile Mosikare | Friday November 21, 2014 14:58
This was according to the most recent Afrobarometer survey.
Afrobarometer is an African-led, non-partisan research project that has measured countries’ social, political, and economic atmosphere since 1999.
According to Professor Mogopodi Lekorwe who conducted the research, slightly more than 51 percent of Batswana show dissatisfaction with the system.
Despite this revelation, the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Slumber Tsogwane is expected to nominate councillors.
“The data is being released as the 11th Parliament is sitting and the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development is expected to announce the names of specially nominated councilors.
“The system has always been a contentious issue with opposition political parties including some senior members of the ruling party,” read the report.
The main criticism has been its lack of clear criteria and also for bringing back the losers against the wishes of the electorates.
“Some members of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) have also voiced concerns that the system tends to reward friends of the ministers even those from outside the constituency, and they see this as abuse of the system and undermining their value in the party,” the survey found out.
According to the key findings of the survey, 53% of urban residents do not agree with the current system of specially nominated councillors whilst 45% say the system should be retained.
There are no major differences between those in rural areas and semi-urban areas. The 55% of those in rural areas do not support the system against 40% who agree with it.
Age plays an important role as slightly more than half (53%) of the elderly, those who are 65 and above think the system should be retained against 36% who do not support it.
There are mixed reactions regarding those who are 50 and below. The 55% of the youth (18-29) are against the system whilst 40% are for it.
Men are more assertive about rejection of the system as 55% said so, compared to 50% of women who equally rejected special nomination by the Minister.
“The system is most disliked by those close to the opposition political parties, as 65% either agree or agree strongly that the system should be abolished whilst 33% support its retention.”
Within those identifying with the ruling party, one in five (50%) believe the system works well whilst 44% said it should be done away with.
It is not surprising to find that the system finds favour within the ruling party as it is used to reward its activists.