Democracy under siege: Government refuses reforms

Democracy is a continuum; from undemocratic system, a polity can democratise by passing through a transition, through to infancy stage and then ultimately a developed democracy or democratic consolidation.

However, a democracy can also regress before consolidating. Samuel Huntington contends that democracy consolidates when the opposition wins and the governing party loses and cede power in a smooth transition. Others think that if there is no exchange of power, at least the polity should have strong and developed democratic institutions.

Botswana has made history by being the only country in Sub-Saharan Africa to retain multiparty-democratic system since independence. Whilst the region experienced undemocratic alternatives such as dictatorships, one-party states and kleptocracies, the country’s liberal democratic record remained unbroken. However, as the saying goes, in the land of the blind one-eyed man is king.

Editor's Comment
Stakeholders must step up veggie supply

The Ministry of Agriculture, local producers, retailers, and industry associations must work together to overcome the obstacles hindering vegetable production and distribution.This collaborative approach is essential to improve the availability, quality, and affordability of vegetables in the market.Firstly, the Ministry of Agriculture should provide support and guidance to local farmers to enhance their productivity and efficiency. This could...

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