Post by Admin on Sept 29, 2014 20:51:49 GMT -5
allafrica.com/stories/201409292312.html
With less than a month left for Botswana to have its general election, political parties have intensified their campaigns as they prepare for the forthcoming October 24 elections.
The ruling Botswana Democratic party (BDP) that has been in power since Botswana's independence from Britain in 1966, and opposition parties, Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) (the first merger party in the country to contest in elections) and the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) will battle it out for the right to rule the country for the next five years.
A splinter party from BDP, Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD), and the Botswana National Front (BNF) formed the UDC in 2010.
The three competing parties are not only visiting all the 57 parliamentary constituencies to introduce their candidates to the electorates but are participating in radio debates in two of the country's radio stations: Radio Botswana (RB1), a government owned, and a private radio station, Gabz FM.
Several range of issues from economy to problems exclusive to constituencies and how to they intend to address them are presented to the electorates in a debate which brings together candidates from competing parties including independent candidates. Public audience get the opportunity to ask the candidates questions.
Sitting president, Seretse Khama Ian Khama, leads the BDP into the polls against Dumelang Saleshando of the BCP and UDC's Duma Boko, a renowned human rights lawyer who is comparatively a political novice.
In another development, the country's elections body, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), has stated its readiness to organise the October 24 polls. The commission received three nominations for the presidency was expected to receive parliamentary and council nominations on Thursday. IEC spokesperson cautioned aspiring parliamentarians and council to register by the Thursday deadline or risk being disqualified.
With less than a month left for Botswana to have its general election, political parties have intensified their campaigns as they prepare for the forthcoming October 24 elections.
The ruling Botswana Democratic party (BDP) that has been in power since Botswana's independence from Britain in 1966, and opposition parties, Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) (the first merger party in the country to contest in elections) and the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) will battle it out for the right to rule the country for the next five years.
A splinter party from BDP, Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD), and the Botswana National Front (BNF) formed the UDC in 2010.
The three competing parties are not only visiting all the 57 parliamentary constituencies to introduce their candidates to the electorates but are participating in radio debates in two of the country's radio stations: Radio Botswana (RB1), a government owned, and a private radio station, Gabz FM.
Several range of issues from economy to problems exclusive to constituencies and how to they intend to address them are presented to the electorates in a debate which brings together candidates from competing parties including independent candidates. Public audience get the opportunity to ask the candidates questions.
Sitting president, Seretse Khama Ian Khama, leads the BDP into the polls against Dumelang Saleshando of the BCP and UDC's Duma Boko, a renowned human rights lawyer who is comparatively a political novice.
In another development, the country's elections body, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), has stated its readiness to organise the October 24 polls. The commission received three nominations for the presidency was expected to receive parliamentary and council nominations on Thursday. IEC spokesperson cautioned aspiring parliamentarians and council to register by the Thursday deadline or risk being disqualified.