22 Dec 2020

The year 2020 was indeed a roller coaster, in Botswana politics. Major firsts featured in Botswana’s political story such as: large number of election protests, live parliamentary debates and the longest State of Public Emergency.

While former President, Dr Festus Mogae did declare a state of emergency in 1999, due to irregularities in the voters roll, it was short and fades in comparison to the current one.

In April, 2020, President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi declared a six-month state of public emergency, that was triggered by the outbreak of COVID-19, which was later extended by another six months as the pandemic showed no signs of abating. Regional and international movement was curtailed with a host of protocols introduced to curb the novel coronavirus. 

So novel was the virus, that for a moment, scientists could not clearly define its behaviour; while some believed that hot weather could kill it, others believed there was no keeping at bay what was clearly an end-time event. 

Today COVID-19 has claimed the lives of over 1.5 million people worldwide, 38 of them being from Botswana. This, one would want to believe, was due to the swift measures that were put in place to curb the spread of the virus. Among these measures was the appointment of the COVID-19 Presidential Task Force Team, whose mandate was to monitor the progression of the disease and come up with a tranche of measures to, as much as possible, keep the virus at bay.

Meanwhile, a number of multilateral events, that usually see heads of states gather in one place to dialogue, were held virtually. Among them was the inaugural World Economic Forum (WEF) 2023 Vision Leaders, which was meant to share lessons on how leaders can support each other in an effort to promote the use of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) in the wake of COVID-19.

Botswana, as the chairperson of the SADC Troika Organ on Politics, Defence and Security also hosted some heads of state in Gaborone to discuss security issues concerning peace building in the region.

Another first was mass election protests, which kept the judiciary busy, following the 2019 general elections, though all but one, of the cases were lost with costs.

This year also saw the suspension of three bye-elections; following the deaths of councillors for Boseja South in Mochudi East, Metsimotlhabe in Gabane-Mmankgodi and Tamasane in Mmadinare constituencies.

Political party elective congresses were also postponed due to COVID-19.

Batswana were dealt a great hand with the live broadcast of Parliamentary debates, which spiced up an otherwise ‘painful’ year.

The debates however were, as was to be expected, received with differing views, with some arguing that Parliament was nothing but an amusement park; as there were incidents of offensive language and jokes. 

In many instances, the Speaker of National Assembly had to constantly call MPs to order, remind them about the decorum of the assembly and the need to keep their ‘eyes on the ball’.

Notable bills passed by Parliament include, the Sexual Offenders Registry Bill that seeks to consolidate all sex offence laws such as rape, defilement, indecent assault, child pornography, child sexual exploitation, among others. 

It will also prevent offenders from interacting with children and vulnerable persons.

Also passed is the Constitution Amendment Bill that seeks to cause a vacancy in the event that an elected legislator leaves a party through whose ticket they were elected into Parliament.

Cabinet was also reshuffled, following the resignation of former Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation, Dr Unity Dow, which saw one backbencher, Mr Molebatsi Molebatsi of Mmadinare being promoted to Assistant Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, while Moshupa-Manyana MP and former assistant minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Mr Karabo Gare was promoted to Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security.

On another note, some MPs defected to other parties; being Francistown West’s, Ignatius Moswaane, who defected from the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) to the Umbrella for Democratic Change, while Jwaneng-Mabutsane MP, Mr Mephato Reatile also left BDP for the Botswana Patriotic Front and Tonota MP Mr Pono Moatlhodi left UDC to go back to the BDP.

On a sad note, some of Botswana’s politicians of note, such as former minister, Mr Itani Chilume and Ms Roseline Panzirah Motshome passed on. ENDS