Gov’t hints all party funding next year
Lewanika Timothy | Monday November 27, 2023 06:00
Political party funding has been a bone of contention in Botswana’s political landscape, a plea that was initially argued for by political stalwarts of old like the late Dr.Kenneth Koma and others. By then Dr Koma and company held the view that the political process of contesting for elections was not just a mere face off by political opponents rather it was part and parcel of a functional democratic machinery that needs to be supported by the state. Koma would try on numerous accounts till the end of his political career trying to garner funding from government passing on the button to many other opposition leaders whose plea often fell on deaf ears.
Decades later it seems light will dawn at the end of a long tunnel, response from government this week citing the possibility of the December white paper including political party funding. Responding to a question tabled by legislator, Unity Dow, during the parliamentary budget pitso meeting,
“We can’t delve much into the budget allocation but the white paper will surely cover political party funding,” Serame said. The question by Dow premised from an inquiry as to whether Serame is willing to protect and enhance the democratic process through financing its core stakeholders like political parties. Undisputably, elections legitimise democracy, but at a hefty cost that often leaves contenders financially disarrayed.
“As the Ministry of Finance, you are tasked with protecting the country from shocks that may affect the economy, but are you aware of non economic shocks such as political unrest that may emanate from undue political processes such as election fraud?” asked Dow. Botswana is one of Africa’s oldest democracy, with the country having had a head start to self-governance in the late 60s, an epoch when other African nations were sweltering in the heat of colonial oppression.
Given the political leeway the country has enjoyed, it would be expected that by now the country’s democracy would have consolidated to unimaginable heights, especially with regards to strengthening its political systems around elections. To the contrary, the cogs of Botswana’s democracy have rusted with time, producing squeaky conflicts that have entered the courtroom time and time again. The 2019 General Election was an epitome of the rot the democratic process has endured with the leading opposition party, Umbrella of Democratic Change (UDC) crying foul, alleging that the electoral process was rigged against them.
National elections have recycled the same party back to power since 1966, an occurrence which has raised a lot of eyebrows for many political observers. An Afrobarometer study on Botswana political landscape pointed out that the country has a weak opposition party mainly due to lack of political party funding that often frustrates the success of electoral campaigns for opposition parties. “Majority of Batswana (64%) call for State funding of political parties based on electoral performance. Support for state funding of parties does not differ by gender or location but is stronger among better-educated respondents,” the report read.
Political party competition in Botswana has been unfair and skewed oscillating benefits to the ruling party leaving opposition parties resource starved and impeding their effectiveness in contending for elections. The State has often been accused of standing at a point of privilege mainly because national resources are often at its disposal, ranging from state cars, aircrafts and many more.
The sitting President, who is also the ruling Botswana Democratic Party party president, has a 10-month advantage during election year, where he can deploy State resources and temper with government priorities to sway election outcomes. The State further has a parasitic relationship with all businesses in the local economy and so the patronage network spreads far and wide for the benefit of the ruling party. Moreover, State agencies are often used to frustrate the electoral campaigns of opposition parties, with opposition parties mulling the involvement of agencies like Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS) and Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS).
Given the predominate role money plays in elections as an essential component of the democratic processes, the opposition has always advocated for state funding to level the playing field in financing democracy. The current skewed playing field in the political game has in the past forced some opposition parties to seek funding from elsewhere and sometimes from foreign donors, which has the ability to put the political security of the country at risk.
In the absence of party funding electoral costs are a burden often left on the shoulders on the families of contestants. Processes such as primary elections whittle family wealth as hard earned revenue is consumed to fund democracy. For perennial losers, the journey in politics is a chilling walk to poverty stretching beyond the way to the grave. For the victors, temporary reprieve comes from civic reward, which on its own is by no means enriching.
Political parties serve as the soul and breathe of every democratic governance. They are sacrosanct in leadership selection and legitimize the color of the government in the eyes of the nation itself and globe. The functionality of democracy is symbiotically dependent on adequate funding, which can be legal or illegal.
Serame’s hint of political party funding will serve as a possible game changer and a win for democracy after many years of enduring losses and regression for the country's democracy. As the debate on political party funding rages on, the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the Review of the Constitution is in agreement that there is an actual need for political party funding.
The Commission recommends that: “Political party funding be introduced based on parliamentary seats won by parties in the immediate past general election at the rate of not less than P50,000 or such amount as may be determined by Parliament from time to time per Member of Parliament.” The recommendation comes after submissions in support of public funding of political parties were high.
In an interview with Mmegi, UDC spokesperson Moeti Mohwasa said that government should be sure to make all necessary consultations especially with all parties before considering any sort of commitment . He further said that ministers should detest from acting like they are not BDP members when addressing issues of political concern.
'The BDP led government doesn't see political parties as stakeholders, before any decision or recommendation is made, we should be consulted first'he said
Botswana Congress Party (BCP) president, Dumelang Saleshando told Mmegi that his contention with the BDP is that it believes it is the sole organisation responsible for shaping the political landscape of the country often times sidelining other stakeholders in a bid to take all the glory.
'The devil is going to be in the details. in other countries when party funding is enacted it is usually to the benefit of the incumbent,' he said
Quizzed about the development on political party funding, Finance Minister Serame told Mmegi in a WhatsAp communication: 'I was debating in Parliament day before yesterday. It should be in the Hansard. In short I said I’m hopeful that issues such as political party funding will be addressed in the White Paper of Constitutional Review that is expected to be tabled in Parliament before Christmas. And yes, I do support political Party funding.'