Parliament should ensure party funding by government

The issue had, before the adoption of the motion by Parliament, been on the agenda of Botswana politics and a priority for the opposition. Academia, media, civil society and even at some point the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime among others called for funding of political parties and regulation of private funding of parties. Whilst the debate wasn’t new in the 10th Parliament, MPs across the political divide were at the time determined to see the matter through to its positive conclusion. What is left is implementation of the motion by the executive and that seems to be a labourous task.

On the 11th December 2014, the Assistant Minister of Presidential Affairs and Public Administration was asked “when the motion adopted by the 10th Parliament on the public funding of political parties will be implemented” and he told Parliament that “given the recent nature of the motion in question, its implementation Mr Speaker would be preceded by consultation and careful analysis of potential options before coming up with a system that is best suited for our country”. The minister also said there is a need to benchmark on funding models including “consideration of budget implications”. Asked to give timelines in terms of when the envisaged exercise will be completed and whether in the 2019 elections parties will be funded, the minister was evasive.