“WE VOTE PEOPLE TO EAT ALONE WHILE WE SUFFER”
ON THE BACKDROP OF THE IMPENDING SUPPLEMENTARY REGISTRATION EXERCISE, WE ASKED OUR READERS WHY THEY CHOOSE NOT TO VOTE NOR EVEN REGISTER TO VOTE. THESE ARE SOME OF THE RESPONSES
Our political party leaders only care about themselves. We all know that. MP Lucas was honest recently when he said we should understand that politicians begin to care about people when it’s election time. He asked the people of his constituency to understand gore that’s how politicians are. Immediately after you vote for them they disappear only to reappear ka di by elections or general elections. Once in Parliament and Councils, owai, it’s every man for himself. So people generally feel gore by voting they are only adding to the income streams for the already rich politicians. What can be done? Political education.
[Tshephang Mooketsane]
It’s evident these guys go to Parliament to do harmful laws, like one which they said a device can be installed in your car or at home will-nilly. We listen to Parliament debates there are several motions of national importance which were shamelessly rejected just because it was coming from the opposing side [Oagile Oboletse]
Nna fela tota on my own, e bile ke sa buelle ope fela - just me being honest, I see no need to vote because I know it is not going to change my life in anyway. See what happens in other countries where parties have been changed batho ba solofela better lives, things have gone worse.
Did the lives of ordinary people change when ANC took over from the whites party? What about in Zambia? The people are still crying there. Or maybe because reading Animal Farm at school also taught me that politicians care about themselves. Once they get power they forget about everyone else and they become corrupt just like those who were there before. So nna I carry on with my life. I trust no one. [Tumisang Molefhe]
Mara we forget that some people work as security guards, they start work before go bulwa at the polling station and they knock off go tswetse. So that’s one thing they need to look at. Other countries register online, why can’t we do the same. Are we gonna be left behind in everything . The president speaks about the 4th industrial revolution in almost every speech he makes. Now since they say “a re chencheng” let them lead in that “a re chencheng” [Calvin Rasefako]
Elections in Botswana are not free, fair and transparent. This has been proved by denial of Madibelathopho’s quest to observe registration process; also the fact that IEC is not independent is a turn off to potential voters. [Robert Mannathoko]
People literally don’t know the need or importance of voting. That it has nothing to do with people’s stomachs. We need to vote because someone must fill that position gore go nne le tsamaiso, go seka ga busa yoo thata kana yo a betsang or something -to avoid instabilities. [Buzah Kgosi]
Can’t think of anything else, except that the UDC case, IEC’s shenanigans and the Judiciary’s unwillingness to rule that our electoral law (IEC Act) be reviewed and modernized, as per the wishes of most Batswana, probably dampened the enthusiasm of other people, especially the youth. It’s a disappointment and great concern that only a few Batswana find it worthwhile to register to vote [Ompaletse K. Mokwadi]
Politicians are sell-outs you vote them, when they get there they care much about their leaders than people who brought them to parliament. And they will be back again during election time to come and lie to you again so you can vote them. [O’Nniel OM]
Why should we, le bone ba opposition are not putting more effort ko Palamente ba itse gone go ikokeletsa madi hela [Prince Kerry Salim Al-fayeed]
Khama and more especially Masisi have brought hopelessness to citizens. Their endless war has set Botswana 5 years back and Masisi should be worried by this feedback. [Phemelo Khomane]
Our politicians care about themselves, gompieno we got graduates ba ba sa berekeng, we got people ba ba saleng motho a applaela setsha ka 2000 and ga ise a bewe. Maloba fela jaana ka Covid-19 nne gotwe dijo tsa mmaboipelego go na le ba ba di jang le ba ba sa di jeng, o kare ga re Batswana, ba re lathella. Gompieno they need our vote, re lapile, a go tlhophe bone ba ba ikwadisitseng [Flex Bw]
These guys ha o ba thopha e nna dimumu ko palamenteng and le dithaloganyo tsa bone di a gapiwa so batho ba lebile seo ba sa ikwadise. Ha ne go lebelelwa performance ya tiro ya gago every year and if o palelwa go fasiwa o mongwe [Kenneth Kcrayzie Oitsile]
Politicians only want to eat and don’t care about the voters ba nna hela ba ikokeletsa madi both opposition and the ruling party but rona sale re okeletswa leng labohelo? [Nunu Lg]
Nna ga ke tsiediwe ke lepolotiki. Where you are the ruling party or opposition,
batho ba ba tshwana fela. Opposition MPs always ba ganetsa everything se se buiwang ke ruling party but watch how united they are ga ba ikokeletsa madi. You will never see any opposition MP a gana ga go buiwa ka madi e bile maloba ba gaisitswe ke Chiliboy Rakgare o ne a re mapolotiki a greedy. Golo mo is a sign
gore le bone ga ba tsena baa go batla go ja. A mapolotiki ba tlhophiwe ga one fela, motho a seka a boeletsa, [Tshepo Moleofe]
Opposition is very weak and this might be one of the reasons people don’t care to vote. If we had only 2 political parties in Botswana I believe there would be tough competition and anyone who does not register to vote would know that their absence may give another party an advantage. People would be motivated to go vote. Lastly president tshwanetse e ithophelwe. Right now there is no competition at all whether people register or not BDP will be the ruling party. A go nne le competition e thwaafetseng
[Lesang Pity Pitlagano]
People are not interested in voting simply because they have lost power in doing so. Let me break it down, politicians are making some decisions that are not for the masses. Right now Mr President wants to ban use of passport between Zim and Botswana. A very unpopular decision. The constitution has not been amended to cater for wishes of Batswana.
As a matter of fact, all the recommendations on the amendments of constitution have not been enacted. Boko is teaming up with Seretse Khama Ian
Khama, against the many wishes of UDC followers. Members are disgruntled and if they voice it out they will be labelled BDP. They love the UDC but are not happy with the way it’s run. [Dan K Mak]
My observation is simple really. Voters are disrespected and disregarded.
There are many instances where many rejected political figures were given even better positions and portfolios like special elections back into parley for ministerial assignment or even ambassadorial appointments, it is very disappointing.
[Shi Rebakwena Pule Nkula]
Ha re sena go ba tlhopha ba nna bizzy ba re heta ka dikoloi tsa madi a rona e bile le bana ba bone ba simolola gore kgakgahalela [Rraagwe Affix Nthaga]
It’s time Politics is introduced in our Secondary School curriculum. We all need that free education as a country. This is a game of INFORMED decisions, both as citizens, and political leadership.
Rona kana gare itse sepe ka economics.
Re tlhopha hela re lebile maikutlo, be go sala go sena mosola. Ene ba itse rra go a dirisa maikutlo a rona [Royal Dee]
Nna tota I cant vote for motho yo jang mae le di bacon phakela nna ke bolawa ke tlala. Gape these politicians ba etse bolope hela ko palamenteng ba useless. [Goon Mawaya Mmabe]
Turncoat politicians who think we are stupid and can not hold them accountable for the lies they told us when campaigning in 2019. All these guys are taking us for granted. If they don’t change we will not change. Full stop. [Donald Siska]
Rayang Mazimbabwe le Namibians ba lo tlhophe ka lo ba tsenya ka omang, Indians le Machina ba re turisetsa dilo in shops lo neetse lefatshe la rona batswakwa rona re setse ka poifo le tsotlego [Motlale Lekula]
Why do some citizens choose not to vote? What can be done? Indeed there are some of the citizens who choose not to vote. We need to understand that there are many factors that make people not to vote, one being failure to capacitate them on the importance behind their vote and how their vote will influence their lives for the entire five years and failure to carry out the promises outlined in the party manifesto effectively.
Therefore to politicians, voters need to be fully given knowledge about why they need to vote and the constitutional right is key. [Mathews Nakedi]
Those who are supposed to educate voters are always protesting and making unnecessary demands, jaanong go kgoba moko to see those who want to takeover acting against the same platform that can give victory; delaying tactics and failure to allow people to participate in electoral process but advocating for shortcuts and avoiding primary elections. [Moses Shady Babusi]
Ga gona mosola wa go batlela motho tiro e a tsayang more than 40k/month wena o tsaya P1800 ba bo ba re go siame fela. Private sector ke yone e tshwereng economy ya Botswana but they are treated like slaves. Government only focuses on their employees forgetting these hard working people. [Vanwak Bw]
Opposition as it is can never bring about a better Botswana for Batswana. Better a devil you know than angel you don’t, right? Nna personally until the opposition coalitions come together to form one opposition party(do away with the many different parties that exist only to confuse Batswana) or say we are allowed to vote for our own president as a nation, NEVER ke bona mosola wa go thlopha to be honest. [Tim BadDaddzy Doright]
Batswana have made this feedback hoping politicians will listen to their cries, but as usual nothing can stop (1) wage disparities, (2) ritual murders (3) rampant corruption,(4) policies meant to appease friends in neighboring states (5) lack of transparency in running public affairs (6) failure to exercise utmost good faith In the leadership.
Today the numbers who registered are much better, when you consider how angry the Batswana are, next time we won’t talk of voter apathy but just leaving the so-called politicians to use their families to vote them, because they are merely ‘job seekers ‘ not leaders