Political Parties and Democratic Governance in Botswana

Molomo, Mpho G.

doi:10.2307/j.ctt18fs78h.17

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…40 The two benchmark measures, Freedom House and Polity (Doorenspleet), support this consensus opinion. In contrast, Przeworski et al punish Botswana for the absence of alternation and qualify it as undemocratic.…”

Section: Botswanamentioning

confidence: 64%

Elections, Election Outcomes, and Democracy in Southern Africa

Bogaards¹

2007

Democratization

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Elections and election outcomes are widely used as a convenient short cut to measuring democracy. If this were correct, information on elections and election outcomes would be a time-and cost-saving means of identifying regime type. However, this article shows that the influential democracy measures of Beck et al., Ferree and Singh, Przeworski et al., and Vanhanen fail to adequately identify regime type when applied to ten countries in Southern Africa. For most countries, it is not possible to distinguish democracies from non-democracies on the basis of elections and election outcomes. Multi-party elections are not always free, fair, and democratic; dominant parties and dominant party systems are not necessarily undemocratic; large election victories are not by themselves proof of foul play; and not all authoritarian regimes maintain their rule through overwhelming parliamentary or electoral majorities.

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Section: Botswanamentioning

confidence: 64%

Elections, Election Outcomes, and Democracy in Southern Africa

Bogaards¹

2007

Democratization

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“…Despite its shortcomings, various scholars describe Botswana's democracy as being exemplary on the African continent (Holm, 1996;Doorenspleet, 2003;Molomo, 2003). According to the Background Note prepared by the U.S. Department of State (2007) on Botswana, "Botswana has a flourishing multiparty constitutional democracy.…”

Section: A Discourse In the Kgotlamentioning

confidence: 99%

The Kgotla as a Spatial Mediator on South African University Campuses

Laubscher¹

2019

JSAA

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Higher education in South Africa is experiencing a time of accelerated change, increasing complexity, contested knowledge claims and inevitable uncertainty. Academia, and by proxy the place which accommodates the academic function, stand central to this debate. The need for a decolonised curriculum on the African continent dates back to the inauguration of the Association of African Universities (AAU) in 1967. The AAU called for the adherence to world academic standards in the service of Africa and its people. The #FeesMustFall (#FMF) movement placed renewed prominence on the necessity of a curriculum that includes Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS). In spatial terms, the Kgotla forms part of the IKS. The Kgotla represents both a meaningful place and a system of communication. The spatial construct surrounding the #FMF movement lacks interrogation and debate. This article highlights the requirement of a meaningful place on South African university campuses where different voices can be heard. The importance of place is analysed at the hand of two #FMF events. Firstly, the Principal of the University of the Witwatersrand (WITS) sitting down to meet with disgruntled students. Secondly, the President of South Africa leaving protestors in wait on the southern terrace of the Union Buildings. This article concludes by stating the need for a place on South African university campuses to address the complex issues facing not only students but society at large. Space and PlaceThe seminal publication by Yi-Fu Tuan (1977), Space and place -the perspective of experience explores how individuals feel and think about place and space. Tuan (1977) suggests that place is security and space is freedom, and that humankind is attached to the one (place) while longing for the other (freedom). Similarly, Heidegger (1971) distinguishes between building and dwelling, where 'building' serves as a means to support humankind's 'dwelling'.Temple (2018, p. 133) emphasises the intimate relationship between "the physical form of a higher education institution and its effectiveness as a site for teaching, learning, scholarship and research". Temple states that the connection needs to be interrogated using the concepts of space and place.

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“…There is limited literature that exists in discussing the relationship between chieftainship and national security in Botswana. The research has concentrated on new knowledge on advancing women's status in the political, social, and economic spheres to include their appointment as chiefs (Matemba, 2003); the pivotal role of chieftainship (bogosi) in the administrative, judicial, political, and social systems of Botswana (Sharma, 2005;Morapedi, 2006); enduring of Bogosi through the phase of the democratic consolidation process of Botswana (Gillett, 1973;Molomo, 2014) and diminishing powers of chiefs and the legal system (Otlhogile, 1993;Morapedi, 2005). In closing this literature gap this study seeks to explore the degree to which the consolidation process of democracy in Botswana does infringe on the legitimacy of the institution of chieftainship.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Insecurity of chieftainship and its implication on Botswana’s national security: the case of Bakgatla Ba-Ga-Kgafela

Rasetshwane

2023

IJRBS

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Chieftainship being well anchored to hold the cultural fabric of Botswana together remains an institution of interest to uphold democracy in the country. Despite this important function, political administration misconstrues the strategic function of chiefs, leading to insecurity of the institution of Chieftainship. A case in point in this study is that of the principal chief of Bakgatla-baga-Kgafela. Kgosi Kgafela II was the paramount chief of Bakgatla-baga-Kgafela from 2008 to 2011 when the government of Botswana derecognised him. This is a qualitative study that used documents as the main source of data collection. The study analysed the sequence of events and activities during Kgafela’s tenure as a Chief till he fled the country to South Africa in 2012. While there is existing literature on how chieftainship has posed a threat after democratic consolidation in many African states, not much has been done on Bakgata-ba-ga-Kgafela’s case. Documents were analysed in line with the theory of societal security which states that when a referent object is faced with an existential threat it develops a mechanism to ensure its survival. In this case, the study seeks to evaluate if there are implications for Botswana’s national security as Chiefs respond to such societal threats. Further to determine if tribesmen continue to be loyal to their chiefs. The main findings of this study were that; Kgosi Kgafela, declared that the bogosiinstitution is threatened. The institution still seeks to find itself in the governance structures with power and decision-making. Bakagtla reacted to the threats, through initiatives that the community itself carries out and also moved the matter to the political sphere and put the matter as a state agenda item which is in line with propositions of societal security.

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Political Parties and Democratic Governance in Botswana

Cited by 4 publications

References 0 publications

Elections, Election Outcomes, and Democracy in Southern Africa

Elections, Election Outcomes, and Democracy in Southern Africa

The Kgotla as a Spatial Mediator on South African University Campuses

Insecurity of chieftainship and its implication on Botswana’s national security: the case of Bakgatla Ba-Ga-Kgafela

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