UDC tramples on democracy

NEC suggests for sitting MPs, councilors not to be challenged during primaries This amounts to derogation of democratic principles - Analyst

The decision by Umbrella for Democratic Change ( UDC) to call off sitting Members of Parliament and Councillors from being challenged during primary elections has dire consequences for the coalition and is contrary to its principle of inner democracy.

At its last Saturday’s meeting in Palapye UDC National Executive Committee ( NEC) recommended that contracting parties should consider allowing incumbents to go into the 2024 general election without going through the primary elections.

According to the NEC, this would allow the coalition to focus its resources where mostly needed, reduce complaints over primaries and give the contracting partners enough time to campaign for the general election.

The suggestion which has been thrown to the contracting partners for consideration has been met with resistance from many within the coalition and society at large. Botswana Congress Party ( BCP) has become the first contracting partner to dismiss this call, indicating that all members have the right to express interest to stand for elections at any structure. BCP Publicity and Information Secretary Dr. Mpho Pheko stated this week that as the BCP their bedrock of their democracy is the power for their members to enjoy the freedom of being able to avail themselves for elections for any structure in the party including primary elections ( for national elections).

“We therefore assure members of the BCP that their constitutional rights to vote or be voted to become candidates will be respected fully as they shall continue to contest primary elections and elect their preferred candidates,” she said.

The move by the NEC, according to observers will not serve the interests of the electorates both internal and externally during national polls as candidates who no longer serve or appeal to the voters will be imposed on them.

“Primary elections are the most important democratic tool to allow the general membership to determine nominees for political office and influence party policies. In a sovereign republic such as ours, primary elections allow competitive inner- party and intra- party elections to nominate the strongest candidate amongst aspirants.

“They allow political party members to own the party through determining the leadership at various state levels. Primary elections motivate voters to participate directly and indirectly in the elections of the political leadership.

“They are part of political socialisation within political parties. They provide opportunities for new entrants into the political arena thereby broadening the recruitment space.

“Women and the youth are provided with the golden opportunity to participate in the electoral process within political parties to prepare for interparty competition,” Political Science Lecturer with the Department of Political and Administrative Studies at the University of Botswana ( UB) Adam Mfundisi opined.

He indicated that he is not privy to the reasons motivated by the UDC leadership in exempting incumbent MPs and Councillors from undergoing vetting through the primary elections.

He told Botswana Guardian that the UDC leadership should not determine policy directions without the input of the general voting public.

According to the pundit, this amounts to derogation of democratic principles that allows for competitive electoral process. He explained that a blanket policy decision would deprive the UDC of vibrant and resilient women and the youth vying for political office.

“Why protect the incumbents if at all they are performing satisfactorily? They will use the incumbency factor to wade off challengers.

“UDC must broaden not constrain nomination of political aspirants for political office in 2024. All in all, the masses must determine the fate of primary elections not the political elite trying to protect themselves from competition.

“MPs and Councillors who participated in the deliberations and decision to protect incumbency were conflicted. Conflict of interests is a major political dilemma in political parties and may contribute to corruption within parties.”

There have been claims that the UDC leadership is trying to protect some of the MPs and councilors especially from the BCP who are allegedly being targeted by the party leadership.

Mfundisi stated that he is conscious of the negative consequences of primary elections in political parties in Botswana and beyond. UDC leadership wants to maintain the status quo hoping that the incumbents are up to the task, adding that primary elections sometimes pose challenges to the political leadership and parties.

He said they are contributors to political instability and internecine struggles and conflicts thereby derailing political parties from the core business of winning elections.

“Political parties have disintegrated because of the outcomes of primary elections. Electoral fraud and rigging have been alleged by the losing candidates thereby bringing the party in disrepute.

“UDC must adopt an open and competitive electoral process but promoting consensus candidature where possible. It should provide avenues for candidates to compete unless they reach a compromise on the candidate( s) as the case may be.

“To have a one shoe fits all policy decision will lead to political instability toward the 2024 general election. This decision should not be viewed as stifling democracy in the UDC.

“Democracy is a broad concept which does not refer solely to the electoral process but broader political participation and involvement in the political landscape. Deliberative democracy is critical to the UDC.”

Another Political Science Lecturer at UB Shirley Monyatsi said this is not a public debate but an in- house issue. She also questions whether the election of leadership has to always be democratic.

She stated that the UDC NEC might have thought of another way of electing members besides the democratic route. According to her, this now indicates that the UDC is becoming more dictatorial. Monyatsi told this publication that if this is the form or shape they are taking, it also raises questions of who stands to benefit.

“Is this beneficial to the masses and voters? If that is the case then there is no problem. If it does not address the interest of the voters then there is no democracy because the interests of the people are not being taken into consideration.

“Do we only see interest of the people being taken into consideration only in democratic regimes or systems, no. Look at Lybia, where is it now?

There is some dictatorship happening there but the interests of people are being protected.

“So maybe it is high time we look at different forms of running a state or political parties besides that of democracy. If the interest of the voter is met, the selection of those for Council and Parliament should be a problem,” Monyatsi argued.