Botswana’s 2004 Elections: Free and Fair?

Osei-Hwedie, Bertha Z.; Sebudubudu, David

doi:10.20940/jae/2005/v4i1a2

Cited by 5 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…63 Nevertheless, with the broad acceptance of neoliberalism in the 1990s, these ideological differences have narrowed. 64 Moreover, the fact that Tswana culture embodies non-violence and moderation 65 makes the public unsympathetic to the radicalism associated with the opposition, especially the BNF.…”

Section: Support Basementioning

confidence: 99%

In permanent opposition: Botswana's other political parties

Sebudubudu

Osei-Hwedie

2010

South African Journal of International Affairs

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Political opposition parties are considered crucial to the nurturing, enhancing and consolidating of democracy in every political system. Indeed, their existence is proof of political tolerance, competitive party elections, the provision of choices to the voting public and the possibility of alternation in power. However, the political opposition on the African continent is generally weak, and particularly so in Botswana, resulting in the predominance of the ruling party in political affairs. This article analyses the weaknesses of Botswana's opposition parties by tracing their historical evolution, characteristics, electoral base, and performance against the background of the political and electoral system in Botswana and the strength of the ruling party itself. It concludes that future prospects for the opposition to make greater inroads into the Botswana Democratic Party's support are small because of the fragmented nature of the opposition itself and the relative satisfaction of citizens with the current government's performance.

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Section: Support Basementioning

confidence: 99%

In permanent opposition: Botswana's other political parties

Sebudubudu

Osei-Hwedie

2010

South African Journal of International Affairs

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“…As the ruling party, the BDP has been accused of using state resources while the opposition is left without funding. It is also accused of monopolising the electronic media and communications, which accord prominence to the president while restricting opposition leaders on the grounds that their messages are political in nature (Good & Taylor 2005;Osei-Hwedie & Sebudubudu 2005). That the BDP, like other incumbent parties globally, monopolises the media and donor funding is not unusual.…”

Section: Botswanamentioning

confidence: 99%

Opposition Party Alliances and Elections in Botswana, Lesotho and Zambia

Shale¹

2007

JAE

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The Southern African Development Community has made significant democratic progress since the 1990s following a wave of ferocious internal conflicts, as in Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo. In order for the achievements to be sustained the region requires viable political parties, which are key role players in a democracy. The majority of the current ruling parties in the SADC region such as the African National Congress, the Botswana Democratic Party, Frente de Libertação de Moçambique (Frelimo), the Lesotho Congress for Democracy, Zambia's Movement for Multiparty Democracy and the South West Africa People's Organisation are very powerful, while opposition parties are fragmented and generally weak. However, a trend has developed for opposition parties, having recognised their limitations, to form alliances in order to play a meaningful role. This route has been followed by opposition parties in Botswana, Lesotho and Zambia. On the eve of the recent general elections in Lesotho and Zambia, parties negotiated strategies to maximise their chances of winning. In Botswana the negotiation process is still under way, albeit threatened by the failure of parties to move from their fixed positions. These developments raise a critical question: does the formation of alliances constitute a viable option for opposition parties aspiring to power? Put differently: could alliances be the winning formula for the opposition parties in their attempts to circumvent the glaring paucity of their numbers and become a force to be reckoned with?

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Women’s Political Representation in South Africa and Botswana

Olaitan

2024

African Histories and Modernities

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Botswana’s 2004 Elections: Free and Fair?

Abstract: ABSTRACT

Cited by 5 publications

References 6 publications

In permanent opposition: Botswana's other political parties

In permanent opposition: Botswana's other political parties

Opposition Party Alliances and Elections in Botswana, Lesotho and Zambia

Women’s Political Representation in South Africa and Botswana

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