Let us redeem our democracy in 2014

This scandal was perpetrated towards the end of November when the BDP failed to field its preferred candidate, Ignatius Moswaane, for a bye-election then slated for November 23 in Francistown West. In the scam, the so-called petitioners - who totalled 1,161 - asked President Ian Khama to exercise his executive powers, as prescribed by the Electoral Act, to consider a new writ for the bye-election.

In a swift move, the Acting President Ponatshego Kedikilwe issued a proclamation that he predicated on public interest, and the bye-election was postponed to January 25, 2014. An ensuing court action launched by opposition parties failed because the judges felt that the President's executive powers could not be challenged.