Let's Make Our Vote Count

Monitor Editor | Monday October 22, 2018 11:41

In recent years political debate seem to have gone up amongst citizens, which is a very welcome development. It is also important to match the debate with exercising our rights as citizens to choose our government. It does not help much to keep criticising, our representatives, without action.

The public nowadays engage in debate on array of issues both for and against government, which under normal circumstances should translate into ensuring that we hold our representatives accountable to ensure that our democracy is not threatened, and more over to ensure that decisions taken by the government of the day are not self serving, but rather for the benefit and protection of the whole citizenry.

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), started registration for the 2019 general elections on September 3, so one might have thought that by now many Batswana would have registered for the upcoming general elections; but sadly that is not the case. The IEC has revealed that by October 15, only 439,748 had registered for the elections.

The closing date of November 11 is fast approaching, and it remains to be seen how many citizens would have registered. The IEC had set a target of 1,592,350, and with the rate that things are going, it is highly unlikely for the IEC to reach its target.

It definitely shows that voter apathy is still very high amongst Batswana, something which is very worrisome, as that shows that there is a high level of political illiteracy amongst eligible voters.

Yes, a good number of citizens may be disillusioned, but the fact remains when fewer people vote, the politicians elected would not represent the beliefs and values of the general population, hence the need for us to realise that our vote is our voice.

It is not uncommon for people to say that they do not register for elections before they do not have a choice, but the better thing to do would be to register and assess politicians in one’s area. Some say ‘politics is not for them’, but in actual fact, it is each an every Motswana’s responsibility to ensure that their country is run democratically, and ensure that the country’s resources are used wisely to benefit citizenry at large.

Of recent, Batswana have been up in arms, regarding issues of corruption, something which shows that no citizen should ever hold a stand that they are ‘not into politics’. Honestly speaking, you can’t run away from politics, as everything is politics! So, let’s rush to relevant polling stations to register. Our country needs us.