The BCP has also proposed that the allocation be based on both the number of parliamentary representatives and the percentage of the popular vote, or performance-based criteria. Parties have long been advocating for party funding and currently, P34.6 million has been set aside for this purpose. The Minister for State President, Kabo Morwaeng, recently requested parties to submit their position papers to ensure their views are considered. However, he expressed disappointment that not all parties complied. He emphasised the importance of these views as the political funding Bill is set to be urgently presented at the Winter Parliament. The BCP also called for regulatory and accountability protocols to be implemented during the allocation of political funding. The BCP wants regulatory guidelines to ensure the proper utilisation of funds and the development of a reporting system for parties to account for the endowment.
On the issue of foreign donors, the BCP through its secretary-general, Goretetse Kekgonegile, said: [[[“Foreign donors should be allowed, regulated, and capped. Additionally, IT wants donations from local companies to be allowed, regulated, and capped but not from state organisations/parastatals and rich families. As for independent candidates, THEY want funds to be solely distributed to political parties.”]]] While on women, youth, and people living with disabilities, the BCP proposed that to promote inclusion of women, the youth, and minorities, parties should be provided with an incentive to field them. Moreover, the BCP said this is to be a special measure that shall be phased out over time and is meant to address the current gap. Furthermore, they said the fund should create an opportunity to have women, the youth, and people living with disabilities brought to the table in line with the SDGs and that principle should form part of the distribution criteria. On monitoring and evaluation, the BCP also calls for the funding to be given a special purpose and evaluation, and it shall be in line with the special fund.
According to Kekgonegile, to facilitate monitoring and evaluation tools, the guidelines for use should be developed, therefore, ensuring inclusion above all criteria should form part of the guidelines for parties. However, the BCP further highlighted that the challenge of saying all registered political parties must benefit, it encourages mushrooming of new parties. The BCP believes that the popular poll percentage is more stable because it is performance-based, that is only those who demonstrated commitment to be a party competing for power should be funded. “The latter, although it excludes parties formed in between elections, is recommended for Botswana,” he said. It further suggests that 40% of the total budget should go to all political parties for administrative purposes regardless of their representation in Parliament. Therefore, 40% of P34 million will be P13.6 million and the remaining P20.4 million will be reserved for those with seats in Parliament only.
In adopting public funding, the BCP suggests that for funding of political parties and candidates, Botswana will have to introduce new regulations for recipients to account for funds received. It says this practice prevails in all public and non-public/NGOs, which receive public funds, however, small they may be. The BCP secretary-general said when put differently, by accepting public funding, political parties are also accepting a new regulatory framework of reporting and more accountability protocols. He said this will improve transparency and accountability in political parties.
