Botswana Guardian (23 October 2024)
Midweek Sun (23 October 2024)
By Bradley Fortuin
In today’s world, we use online applications for everything – to order food, pay our bills, send money to family or friends, and even look for a compatible dating partner with the same interests and expectations as us. With the latter, swiping left or right on dating sites of a potential partner’s profile can change our life – for the good or bad and is determined by what a person presents on their profile as their interests, needs, and values, which all sums up what they stand for and making them appealing or not. Swiping left means you are not interested in them, while swiping right means you are really interested and are willing to hear them out and see what they have to offer. However, what if we used this same principle when voting in the upcoming general elections on 30 October 2024 when deciding which leader would be best suited for us, and based on their ‘profiles’ which would be their campaign manifestos, do they align with what we need? What do they stand for? Do they respect the rights of all people, or do they go with what is popular and disregard the rights and well-being of groups and their issues such as equality for LGBTIQ+ people, comprehensive sexual reproduction health rights for women? Do they promote the independence of the judiciary and defend the democracy of Batswana, or are they easily swayed and influenced by anti-rights and anti-gender movements to push their harmful rhetoric?
Choosing dignity over politics.
It is peak election campaign season in Botswana, with just under two weeks until Batswana head to the polls to cast our votes, the power is in our hands – the hands of the electorate. Political hopefuls have geared up and are in the last leg of the race to be among the top contenders and potentially the next president of Botswana. Political parties have launched their manifestos and their strongest candidates for people to vote for. Candidates who are in favour and have appealing profiles are likely to get the swipe right, while those who do not align with the people’s needs and preferences are dismissed.
Who to vote for over the years has been about political affiliation regardless of the politician’s character. But this year, we have the opportunity to make a change. It must not be about one’s affiliation or supposed policies but about respect for humanity and dignity. Politicians have the power to determine, influence and shape laws and even set the tone for what is acceptable and what is not in our society.
Swiping left on a failing democracy.
In a country scorecard report on Botswana’s democracy published in July 2024 by the Afrobarometer, as experienced by Batswana, Botswana reported a decrease in satisfaction with how democracy is working in the country from 70% satisfaction in 2012 to 30% in 2022, while only 15% of Batswana said that elected officials often listen to citizens, indicating a disconnect between the government and the people. A majority of 76% believe that accountability must be prioritised over an efficient government, underscoring a demand for greater transparency and responsiveness in the current governance. These statistics highlight how rapidly Batswana have lost faith in what was once the beacon of Africa’s democracy.
Recent weeks have highlighted a concerning trend in Botswana’s governance, marked by undemocratic practices such as the swift introduction of various bills and the hasty launch of infrastructure projects – actions that appear to be aimed at enhancing the government’s popularity rather than genuinely serving the needs of Batswana.
While infrastructure development is a fundamental government responsibility, these measures have often undermined public trust, especially when legislation does not prioritise citizens’ welfare. A striking example is the Penal Code Amendment Bill of 2022, presented to Parliament after the highest court ruled to decriminalise consensual same-sex relations, suggesting an attempt to circumvent judicial authority. Similarly, the Constitution Amendment Bill of 2024, introduced by Minister Kabo Morwaeng, faced nationwide backlash for lacking public consultation and failing to reflect the populace’s aspirations, leading to calls for its withdrawal from various sectors. This action resulted in a peaceful protest by citizens which turned into the police attacking the protesters on 4 September 2024.
In July 2024, Morwaeng proposed an amendment to the President’s Pension and Retirement Benefits Act, which would provide lavish benefits to former and current presidents and their families. Activists criticised this proposal as a blatant display of self-serving governance prompting potential public protests that led to the bill’s withdrawal for further consultation. This comes at a time when the country is facing severe economic crises, and the government is forced to suspend certain interventions due to a shortage of funds.
Are these the kind of leaders that we still want to swipe right and keep in power? When leaders introduce bills that fail to consider the socioeconomic environment of the average Motswana, they betray us, the constituents, by neglecting to address critical issues such as gender-based violence, unemployment, the deterioration of the healthcare system with effective long-term solutions. Is there still a need to swipe right for leaders who continue to let us down? I think not!
The people are woke.
This election period, we the people – the voters are now more than ever aware of the voting power that we have and not to compromise. Swiping left for leaders who do not comply sends a strong message that we, the people, demand better!
*Bradley Fortuin is the Equality Consultant at the Southern Africa Litigation Centre and a social justice activist.
