The right to vote is a political right, enshrined in Section 11 of the Constitution of Botswana as a subset of a greater right deemed as the freedom to conscience.
This allows the citizens of the country to freely deploy the faculties of their mind without any infringement when choosing who is to represent them. As the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) readies to kick start the voter registration period, every Motswana should register and prepare to vote for their preferred political leader.
In order for the right to vote to be enjoyed, Batswana voters must know that voting is an exercise that must be carried out responsibly. Responsibility herein suggests that the voting decision must be the result of a meticulous and rigorous thought process.
Who to vote for in elections is a personal decision and a secret that is rightfully protected by the electoral act under its vast provisions. But before going to cast the ballot, every Motswana owes it to themselves to take a moment and reflect on the past and what they want the future to be like.
It is a period to keep a sober mind, and desist from being swayed by cheap political talk that is often peddled by politicians as they seek for another endorsement from the voters.
Who to vote for is a personal decision that has a national implication on policies for the next five years, the state of the economy and the quality of services citizens will receive from the government and the opposition as well.
The Constitution protects every Motswana to make their decisions free from political duress, but it also bestows a great deal of responsibility on the voters to make informed voting decisions.
In hindsight, previous election outcomes have proved to have been the result of irrational choices by the polity, with some electoral campaigns having been dominated by ethnic considerations or the politics of the North versus the South.
As the election time approaches, it’s the dawning of another chance to determine which policies are best suited to run the economy going forward. Generally, Botswana has a young demographic and to the young polity who will be first time voters, 2024 is a chance to decide your fate, so make sure it represents your truth. To those who have voted before, this is the chance to vote wisely. Enjoy your suffrage!
“Voting is the expression of our
commitment to ourselves, one another,
this country and this world”
-Sharon Salzberg
