Professor Tachilisa Balule, an associate professor of law at the University of Botswana has raised concerns about transparency and freedom in Botswana's governance system. Balule was speaking at the Freedom of Expression Summit ahead of this year's October General Election .
Speaking to a diverse audience including human rights experts, political parties, journalists, policymakers, academics, and civil society organizations, Balule highlighted critical issues that could impact the upcoming 2024 elections.
"Freedom of expression means people can have their own thoughts and share information and ideas openly, without anyone stopping them, no matter where they are. However, in Botswana, there's a widespread habit of keeping things secret because of fear, which extends from government offices to private businesses. This habit needs to change because it makes it hard to find out things. Usually, people only manage to get information after a lot of effort and difficulty," said Balule.
Balule also criticised the current Whistleblowing Act, asserting that it fails to adequately protect whistleblowers, thus rendering the act weak and ineffective. "The Whistleblowing Act, 2016, was designed to encourage reporting of improper conduct and protect whistleblowers from retaliation, according to the Act, a person shall not be subjected to any detriment on the ground that the person has made a disclosure of impropriety. However, the Act's provisions fall short in practice," he argued.
Balule pointed out that whistleblowers still face significant risks, including harassment and job loss, thereby discouraging them from coming forward with critical information. "This lack of effective protection discourages individuals from coming forward with critical information, undermining the Act's intended purpose and weakening efforts to promote transparency and accountability in Botswana," he stressed. Another critical issue Balule addressed is the lack of transparency in appointing members of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC). "IEC members are not appointed transparently, there is an absence of public participation in the process. This opacity raises concerns about the commission's impartiality in overseeing fair elections," he stated.
