What of SONA, Mr President?
Friday, November 15, 2019
The Botswana Democratic Party’s (BDP) performance is a clear vote of confidence in Masisi’s leadership. Now to the task of governing, the President must and will have to use the State of the Nation Address (SONA) coupled with his newly endorsed cabinet to set the tone for his mandate, define his priorities in line with the electoral promises he made and drive his transformation agenda.
The SONA will force Masisi to start carving out his own legacy and project authority to the challenges the country faces. Looking at the pledges Masisi and the BDP made to the electorate, it would be strategic to go for the low hanging fruit and line up initiatives that can bear fruit at least in the first 100 days in office.
The fees have been doubled from the previous amounts and raise concerns about political participation accessibility and democratic representation principles.This significant fee increase prompts questions regarding its impact on grassroots democracy.On one hand, the fees act as a filter, ensuring only serious contenders enter the race, potentially reducing frivolous candidacies and generating crucial campaign funds. The BDP argues that aspiring...