With just a month away, from Botswana's polls only one party, the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), has launched its manifesto. Meanwhile, the rest have not yet done so. Consequently, this gives Batswana only a limited time to understand the political parties' manifestos or to make a fair judgement based on what each party intends to do if elected into power. The political parties that will contest for the polls include the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), the UDC, the Botswana Congress Party (BCP), the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF), the Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) and the Botswana Republic Party (BRP). A manifesto is a political party’s document that outlines all the promises it makes to the people about what it plans to do if elected. Typically, a party makes decisions, policies, and programmes, amongst other things, based on its manifesto. When campaigning, a party will, therefore, take pride in having accomplished most of the promises it made to the people. This is the first time political parties have acted in this manner.
For instance, the BCP has only released snippets of its manifesto rather than the entire document. Normally, even if parties are late, they ensure that the public has access to their manifestos at least two months before the general elections. The BCP is expected to launch its manifesto on September 18, 2024. This situation indicates that some parties have realised Batswana do not hold them accountable and that some voters cast their ballots without considering a party's promises or its plans to improve the lives of Batswana. However, for those who rely on the manifestos to make informed voting decisions, the limited time to review them before the election day will leave them with fewer options. This delay not only disadvantages voters but also candidates, particularly in debates. Some candidates struggle during ongoing political debates hosted by different radio stations because they are not well-versed in their party's promises. Surprisingly, this time around, parties like the BDP are still dealing with internal issues, such as resolving their Bulela Ditswe candidate lists and delaying the launch of their manifesto. As the ruling party, one would have expected the BDP to lead in this regard, but no clear date has been set for its manifesto launch. As for the BPF, it remains unclear whether they will release a manifesto at all.
The BPF is embroiled in a court battle as some members want the party to work with the UDC after its president, Mephato Reatile, decided to withdraw from the coalition, citing internal UDC conflicts over wards. Although it remains uncertain whether the BRP will release a manifesto, as the party has yet to announce its candidates or the areas it plans to contest, the BRP is a newly established party. Political analyst Dr Sethunya Mosime, remarked: "Political parties seem to believe their target audience doesn't read manifestos. Another issue is the lack of trust between parties and voters, as parties find it challenging to understand what the electorate want or expect. They perceive that the quality of politics has declined, with voters now focusing on candidates who attend their funerals or provide groceries, rather than those who could bring about meaningful change. This shift suggests a need for a survey to understand why voters behave this way," she said. Mosime also noted that political messaging reaches only a few people, as many consider it a needless luxury. She observed that political parties no longer place the same importance on manifestos as they once did. Instead, they now prioritise door-to-door campaigns and encouraging voter registration.
Additionally, she mentioned that political rallies are held less frequently, which is part of a new strategy adopted by parties. Mosime concluded that parties can still win votes regardless of whether they emphasise manifestos, as some parties tend to disregard them after winning. She also pointed out that the divisive nature of current politics causes people to prioritise their interests, making it difficult to hold politicians accountable. Additionally, she mentioned that some people are aware that political parties are not entirely autonomous, as party caucuses bind them. She explained that beyond caucus decisions, the National Development Plan (NDP) is another factor politicians often use as an excuse. When questioned about promises made to the public, politicians often refer to the NDP as a reason for not fulfilling them. She emphasised that it might be time for NGOs to become more active in holding politicians accountable and ensuring that they release their manifestos, as the current approach appears to be taking Batswana for granted.
