The year of the youth electorate
In just under 10 days, Batswana will be going to the polls for the 10th time since the first elections in 1965 that paved a way forward for an independent Botswana. Over the last 9 general elections, a lot of youth haven’t been voting. They have been citing reasons as there is really no reason to put someone into power who is not going to deliver on their election manifestos. Some where saying that the elected party will enjoy all that comes with the post and not care about their electorates, which has been true in some instances. So far this year, 2009 promises to be different with most young people saying they are going to be voting this year.
The big questions I asked to get an insight why a lot of young people wanted to vote this year where; Are you going to be voting in the coming general elections? If yes, why? Does it have anything to do with the Ian Khama Presidency? Is this the first time you are voting? I ran a little survey on Facebook to get some of my friends talking.
Jackson got the ball rolling by saying its high time his voice is heard, he hasn’t voted before but its high time he voted because in the last general elections he didnt vote although he was eligible. He said he was happy with the way things where back then but not anymore. Mosimanegape said he is going to be voting this year for the first time too but it doesn’t have anything to do with the president mostly it has to do with a lot of infighting that has been going on in the ruling party – Botswana Democratic Party(BDP). He says he has lost all trust in the ruling party because he is not sure what kind of stringent bills they might pass in parliament when they have been put back in power. One who just goes by the name of Kb said he is voting because its his right to do so and he is not gonna violate it. “I have voted before and voted again this year on the 3rd of October(because all foreign based Batswana voted on that day)….Its not about the presidency, I feel as a motswana is something I have to do….For record’s sake i have voted against BDP but I do hope other MP’s in the BDP fraternity like Rre Botsalo Ntuane(currently a specially elected MP) make it back 2 parley….in fact he must be the only one.” says Steve. This is what Nelson had to say in reply to the above questions, “I have for the second time voted. because i am one person who believe that it is best to guard our democracy than to sit and chew my nails complaining that our democracy is dead and we are a one party state. I have voted for a man who inspires me to speak logic and sense at all times. Our opposition is not dead, just that its still the BDP’s time. They want you to believe there is no alternative.. and mark my words brethrens, Khama will be the last BDP president.”
Lebo jumped in saying she just doesn’t trust the current government to do the right thing if voted into power, so she wants to exercise their democratic right and make sure they can keep a good eye on it. Amo she will vote for someone who she feels is really competent enough to represent her so that when she complains about the poor service delivery then she will remember that she put that person there in the first place. Some youngsters say they want to rectify their past mistakes because they are unhappy about their current representatives. Some of the people have been saying they wish they will be a change of government for the first time since 1965. Kago jumps in saying,”I mean I am a BDP supporter by birth and what the President is doing is known to him and his boot lickers….The fast that he fails to understand one thing about boot lickers… if he looses his stand they just switch and lick another boot…not his of course…he is surroundin himself with a lot of yes men and that cant be health for his administration.” having said that he said he is not going to be voting but he will be observing the elections with a lot of interest to see what is going to happen.
Although there are a lot of young people looking forward to vote they are also some who said that they are not going to be voting. Neo quoted it very well saying,”The last elections were my first to be eligible to vote and i voted…. This time i’m NOT going to vote. Yep it has a lot to do with the current president. i don’t appreciate his ruling and at the same time i cant vote for any other party but BDP. I love this party and i’m even a member. “ Lebogang summed it up nicely why she decided not to vote, “ I ain’t voting… i really dont see the point. Botswana is a one party state and no one has freedom for anything… be warned all of you who are saying negative things about the current administration, you might find yourselves in jail. You cant sue the president and you are not allowed to say anything nasty about him either…Carefull guys, Big Brother is always watching and listening… Opposition parties are all a very big fat joke… no need to waste my time on them.” Jane said as long as old people vote, she is not going to because they are scared of change hence the BDP has managed to hold onto power for so long and we don’t know what other leaders can bring to the table.
What are the factors that have led to this outcome? Does the Ian Khama presidency have something to do with it? The opposition has also not really done much to push the ruling party despite its internal squabbles, it is still expected to walk away with all the spoils. IF it was up to you, who would you rather have as the president of Botswana in the upcoming general elections?
*All names have been changed
i dont think Khama will be the last BDP president… Opposition parties are not ready to take over BDP, they enjoy pointing out the wrongs but not coming up with intelligent solutions… they are also BDP fans, to my opinion there’s only one BCP guy (Dumelang Saleshando) who could make a difference, but he obviously cant do it alone, he needs the party but the rest of them are just so pathetic (no offense to the supporters)
The opposition has passed motions in parliament which are rejected by the BDP only for the BDP to implement them years later as their own. Ruling party MPs embarrasingly reject sound and solid motions just because they are from the opposition. Me predicting that this is Domi’s last reign is solely based on my assumption that it cannot take a nation of intelligent people more years on top of the current 43 to reliase that we are led by the blind. so i say again that in the next 4 years when we vote it will certainly not be for anyone in red and black.
I am also hoping that the BDP are having a last bite at the cherry..I get a feeling that if you rule for a very too long you don realize your full potentiality,the hunger to succeed is no longer there,the zeal is gone,so definitely if Botswana is to move forward we need fresh minds,enthusiastic fellows and generally a change in the way government has been run.An African man Credo Mutwa predicted that SKI will be at the helm for about 6 years and then another party will take over and certainly the signs are there be seen.Generally people are not happy with the current government(BDP) SKI.A lot of youth have registered for the elections and more will vote in 2014(think about closing nightclubs at 11 and stuff like that which rubs the youth in bad way)
3.BCP is growing at an alarming rate(getting more popular)
4.Nkate will loose(hold me to these one)
the BDP hegemony is finally seeing the beginning of the end. They have lost the plot, they forgot themselves. Someone needs to tell the president that he might have inherited the Chieftancy and by extension the presidency, but he did not inherit the nation for him to tell what to do, when to do it and how to do it – very soon he will be saying – Have sex between 10pm and 1am and do it missionary style.