Rédaction Africa Links 24 with The Botswana Gazette
Published on 2024-02-14 18:53:02
The Botswana Congress Party (BCP) is urging for the gazetting and scrutinising of a bill to ensure that political parties benefit equitably from the P34 million recently announced for their funding. This statement comes in response to the Minister of Finance Peggy Serame’s announcement of political party funding in the 2024/25 financial year. The BCP emphasized the importance of using taxpayers’ money to level the playing field for all political players and expects comprehensive legislation to provide guidance on the implementation of this funding.
The BCP believes that a level playing field is crucial for citizens to fully appreciate the political parties seeking a mandate to govern, from their policy proposals to their management of resources and governance processes. They emphasized the need for comprehensive legislation to provide guidance on the implementation of this important milestone in their democracy, stating that leaving it to the dictates of a minister or cabinet could open the provision to abuse.
The party also expects a bill to be gazetted after being subjected to comprehensive scrutiny, including submissions from civil society organizations, the labor movement, and professional bodies such as the Law Society of Botswana to provide necessary checks and balances in their democracy. They firmly stated that they will reject any attempt to use Batswana’s taxes to entrench disparities between competing political parties.
In the spirit of levelling the playing field across Botswana’s political landscape, the BCP expressed its expectations for the proposed bill to adopt principles of inclusivity, equity, and a commitment to broaden and entrench democracy. They also emphasized the importance of including women and youth in the bill, as they often find it hard to make it in politics. Additionally, they suggested a multi-tiered approach, with due consideration for components such as party administration, development of party programs, and election campaigns to effectively strengthen political parties.
While Minister Serame announced the introduction of political funding by the government in the 2024/25 budget speech in Parliament, she did not provide details on how it will be rolled out. The BCP’s call for comprehensive legislation and equitable funding demonstrates their commitment to ensuring a fair and transparent political landscape in Botswana. They anticipate that the bill will address the needs of all political players and provide necessary checks and balances to strengthen the country’s democracy.
Read the original article on The Botswana Gazette
