Freedom in the World 1999 - Botswana

1999 Scores

Status: Free
Freedom Rating: 2.0
Civil Liberties: 2
Political Rights: 2

Overview

Botswana lived up to its reputation as a "guiding star" for democracy in Africa in October 1999 by holding its seventh general elections since independence. The ruling and traditionally dominant Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) won by a wide majority in legislative and local elections, soundly defeating a fractured opposition. The BDP scored a significant breakthrough by winning the Gaborone Central constituency from Michael Dingake, who ran a sluggish third. It is the first time the BDP has held a seat in Gaborone in 15 years. A major change in voting patterns was the election of six women, all from the ruling BDP, to parliament. There were only two women in the previous parliament. Altogether 11 women ran for parliament seats.

Some confusion preceded the elections when President Festus Mogae declared a state of emergency. He did so in order to recall parliament so that about 60,000 registered voters could be added to the voter rolls. They could not be put on the list previously because Mogae had issued a writ announcing the election date before the names had been published for inspection. Despite the gaff, the elections proceeded peacefully. Voter apathy, however, was high. Only 57 percent of 800,000 eligible voters registered, despite the passing of a new law that lowered the voting age from 21 to 18.

Botswana has an outstanding record in Africa for human rights although there are occasional reports of police misconduct. Relocation of indigenous Basarwa ("red people"), from traditional lands to make way for game parks and cattle ranching had been a persistent problem, but in 1999 the government made it possible for the Basarwa to return.

Botswana is Africa's longest continuous multiparty democracy; elected governments have ruled the country since it gained independence from Britain in 1966. Economic progress has been built on sound fiscal management and low rates of corruption. Poverty remains a widespread problem and is one of the biggest challenges of the new government. As with many other southern African countries, the AIDS epidemic has put a strain on Botswana's resources. The HIV infection rate rose from 4.35 percent in 1992 to 17 percent in 1998.

Analysts believe another drain on funds in the past has stemmed from weapons purchases connected to territorial and riparian disputes with neighboring Namibia. Judgment on the ownership of Kasikili Island delivered in December at the International Court of Justice at The Hague was in Botswana's favor. The island had been a source of tension since 1992 among local people over fishing rights and poaching.

Political Rights and Civil Liberties

There have been accusations that the ruling BDP, which has held power since independence, has regularly manipulated the electoral process, but Botswana's elections are considered free and fair. The Independent Election Commission created in 1996 has helped consolidate the country's reputation for fairness in voting. Botswana uses a constituency system in which the candidate who polls the highest number of votes in a constituency becomes the member of parliament.

In October's election the BDP swept 33 of 40 national assembly seats. The opposition had gone into the election holding 13 seats. The historical opposition party, the Botswana National Front (BNF), won 6 seats, while the breakaway Botswana Congress Party (BCP) was reduced to a single seat, a reflection of voter dissatisfaction with the split in 1998. Despite its poor showing, the BCP said it would regroup and stand behind its leader, Michael Dingake, and would never rejoin the BNF.

Botswana's national assembly, elected for five years, chooses the president to serve a concurrent five-year term. The assembly's choice is confirmed by the courts when the winning party receives more than half the seats in the parliament. President Mogae, a former central bank chief, actually succeeded Ketumile Masire as president in April 1998. Mogae was confirmed as the country's leader in October 1999. A referendum on whether the president should be directly elected was withdrawn shortly before a scheduled vote in late 1997.

Botswana's courts are generally considered to be fair and free of direct political interference. Trials are usually public, and those accused of the most serious violent crimes are provided public defenders. The University of Botswana Legal Assistance Center and the Botswana Center for Human Rights offer free legal services, but are limited by a lack of resources. Treatment of the indigenous Basarwa (Bushmen) has drawn local and international concern because of government relocation schemes, including forcible evictions from traditional lands. Only a few thousand were permitted to practice traditional nomadic lifestyles in the central Kalahari Desert. Almost 50,000 others have been resettled in villages or as laborers on farms. Some Basarwa, however, returned to their traditional areas in 1999 after the government acquiesced to demands.

Human rights workers helped two Basarwa achieve a significant victory in November. The two men had been sentenced to death but were granted a stay of execution only six hours before they were to be hanged. The Botswana human rights organization Ditshwanelo argued that the men spoke a San dialect and did not understand the language used in the courtroom, and they won a mistrial.

There is a free and vigorous press in cities and towns, and political debate is open and lively. The opposition and government critics, however, receive little access to the government-controlled broadcast media. Issuance of licenses for commercial FM radio stations in late 1998 is expected to break this monopoly.

Progress has been slow on improving the rights of women, although analysts say this could begin to change with the election of more women to parliament. Domestic violence is reportedly rampant, and there is little movement to stem it through police action or education, especially in rural areas.

Concentration of economic power has hindered labor organization. While independent unions are permitted, workers' rights to strike and to bargain for wages are restricted. Botswana has made some efforts to diversify its economy, which is overwhelmingly based on diamond exports. One plan envisages establishing an International Financial Services Center to attract foreign investors. Efforts at privatization are underway.