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STRENGTHES
1. Easy and simple to
understand: Because it does not
proportional electoral system/representation. It produces ainvolve
clear
any calculation like the
winncr.
2. Forms a stable
government: Because the
from the same political party. So they are president, vice president and the cabinet are
likely to have less disagreements.
3. Encourage
accountability and
have to be accountable for their consultation: Members of parliament and councillors
people/their electorate. constituencies and wards and they have to consult their
4. Allows bye elections:
Because the country is divided into constituencies, if a member of
parliament/councillor dies there will be a bye election for that constituency or wards.
5. Produces a clear
winner: The most favoured candidate by
electorate wins elections.
6. Promote broad based
political parties: Because the country is divided into
constituencies, it encourages political parties to reach al constituencies hence
whole country. covering the

WEAKNESSES
1. Imbance in regional
development: Constituencies under the opposition parties lack
behind in developments because the ruling party does not cater for them in the National
Development Plan. Some constituencies are represented by people of low
convince the parliament to bring them developmet. calibre, who cannot
2. Lack of direct presidential
elections: The president is not voted into power which
compromises democracy and this result in voter apathy.
3. Elections held in constituencies can make voting to be along tribal lìmes:
People in
constituencies are usually from the same tribe and they will only vote people from their tribe.
This can promote tribalism and is threat to nation building.
4. Bye elections are expensive: In case of death of a member of
parliament/councillor, the
IECconducts bye-elections using new ballots in which they spend a lot of money.
5. Domination of parliament by one party: Some political parties are not
represented in
parliament, mainly consist of the ruling party. The voice of the minority is not represented in
parliament. Members of the ruling party may votè against good bills or policies because they
are many and this can delay the progress of the country.
 YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING ME
WHAT THE HELL

HOW ELECTIONS ARE CONDUCTED IN BOTSWANA

1.On polling day, voter is allowed into the polling room. WTF BRO
2. Voter shows the polling officer their Omang and voter card.
3.The voter's name is crossed offthe voter's roll
4. The voter's name is read out loud so that the party agents can also cross it off the voter's
roll by the polling officer.
ballot box,
5. The voter make his cross in secrecy to vote for the Councillor and put it in the
then proceed to do the same with the Member of parliament.
6. The Voter leaves the polling station.

vOTER APARTHY
Low turnout during elections
REASONS FOR VOTERAPARTHY

1. Lack of voter education: Some people do not vote because they do not know the
importance of voting.
2. Problems associate with Omang: Some people do not vote because their Omang are lost
or expired.
3.Long Queues during election day: Some people do not vote because they are lazy or
impatient to be in a long queue.
4. Lack of direct presidential elections: Makes elections unattractive as it compromises
democracy because the most powerful person in the country is not voted.
5. Bad weather: This can lead to people not to vote because the weather is unbearable e.g.
heavy rainfall.

THE ROLE OF OPPOSTION PARTIES IN PROMOTIN GOOD GOVERNANCE

Positive
-Promote
1 positive accountability: They can question those in power and the leaders are answerable
for their decisions and actions eg. In parliament through the
media.
-Promote transparency: They can report the
All the wrong doings by the leaders will be wrong doings by those in power to the nation.
known by the public.
-Assist the ruling party with good ideas: As they are voted into
power by people to
represent them. They help the ruling party with ideas to solve national
issues. Eg.
Unemployment, poverty and corn1ption.
-Provide voter education: The opposition parties teach people on the
and how to vote. They encourage people tovote as it is importance of voting
their constitutional right.
-Provide alternative: They provide a choice to the citizens to vote
happy with the ruling party. This makes the ruling party to work for them if they are not
very hard.

Negative
-MostBy based in urban areas and semi Urban areas: They are
mostly
semi-urban areas, people in rural areas do not know about some oppositionbased
in urban and
reduce competition in rural areas with the ruling party and parties hence
compromises democracy.
-Financial constraints/Insufficient resources: Some do not have enough funds
and
resources to intensively campaign in all constituencies. They end up not
competing in other
constituencies hence less competition for the ruling party.
-Internal conflicts: They usually have internal conflicts leading to the breaking up
and
making them weak to compete with the ruling party.
-Exaggerate issues: When reporting to the nation about the ruling party, they sometimes
exaggerate issues as a campaign strategy. This can tarnish and degrade some people. It can
also lead toconflicts and political instability.

THE THREE BRANCHES OF

GOVERNMENT
The government is divided into three branches to decentralise the powers and avoid abuse of
power (checks and balances)
1. The executive (President, Vice President, cabinet, assistant ministers,
civil servants)
2. The legislature (President, VP, MPs, Attorney General, Ntlo ya
Dikgosi)
3. The Judiciary (Chief Justice, Judges and
magistrates)

I
THE ROLE ANDPOWERS OF THEEXECUTIVE
-Initiates new laws and amendment of old laws

-Initiate government policies

-Initiate NDP and annual budget
-Run day to day Affairs of the country

-Appoint senior govenment officials

ROLE AND POWERS OF THE LEGISLATURE

-Make laws and amen old laws

-Approve or disapprove govemment policies

-Advice the govemment on national issues. Eg. Corruption and unemploymernt

-Approve or disapprove the NDP and national budget

-Give the government permission to borrow money from other countries or the World Bank.

THE ROLES AND POWERS OF THE JUDICIARY

-They try civil and criminal cases: Bg. Civil cases like divorce, inheritance and maintenance
and criminal cases like murder and rape.
-They punish those found guilty: For example sentencing to prison, capital punishment, cases
like murder, rape, theft.
-They interpret the constitution

CHECKS AND BALANCES BETWEEN THE THREE BRANCHES

The power of one branch to challenge the decision of the other branch of government.
1.CHECKS AND BALANCES ON THE EXECUTIVE

a) By Parliament and judiciary

-National aSsembly can pass a vote of no confidence on the president
-The executive cannot implement its NDP unless parliament approves it
-The executive cannot remove judges of the court of appeal and High court simply because
they do not like their judgements.
-A Bill cannot become a law when the president didn't sign it. So the executive challenge the
powers of the legislature of making laws
-Any minister is allowed to attend meetings in Ntlo ya Dikgosiwhen a bill he or she
proposed is being discussed
Parliament can make laws that control the judiciary: eg by setting the limits of what kind of
cases a court can hear and the level and type of punishmnent it can give.

-The president has the power to appoint the Chief Justice and Judges.

THE STAGES OF LAW MAKING IN BOTSWANA

government white paper
1. The ministry concened write a memorandum
2.Memorandum is taken to the attorney general chambers where bills are drafted
3. The drafted bill is published in the government gazette for 30 days.
4. 1 reading of the bills in parliament: There is no debate at this stage.
5. 2 reading of the bill in parliament: There is debate for or against the bill. The MPs then
vote for or against the bill.

6. Committee stage: The bill is discussed in details and changes (if any) are made.
7.3° reading of the bill in parliament: Members vote for or against the bill.
8. If votedfor, the bill becomes an act of parliament awaiting the president to sign.
9. The president signs the bill to become a law.
If the president does not sign it, it goes back through all the stages again.
define sovereignty; means a self governing and independent state that has full
control over it eternal and external state

MAIN FEATURES OF BOTSWANA'S CONSTITUTION

1. Chapter 1: The Republic-Declares Botswana as a sovereign state in which the leader of
the government is the president. The president is the leader of the party that won the general
elections.
2. Chapter 2: Protection of human rights and freedom- The human rights to be enjoyed by
citizens are listed in this chapte, eg. The right to life, the right to vote.
3.Chapter 3: Citizenship- It states how one can become a citizen of Botswana, eg through
Birth, descent, adoption etc, and how one can be denied the citizenship.
4.Chapter 4: The executive- States the composition and powers of the executive branch.
Eg. Initiate NDP and national budget.
5. Chapter 5: The parlisment/Legislature- States the composition and powers on the
legislature branch. Eg. Give permission to the government to borrow money from outside.
 6. Chapter 6: The Judiciary- State the composition and powers of the judiciary eg. Punish
those found guilty.
7. Chapter 7: The Public Service- Deals with the appointment of public officers

8. Chapter 8: The Finance- Explains how the government money will be used in the
country. Declares that there shall be general auditor to audit government funds.
9. Chapter 9: Miscellaneous- Deals with resignation, re-appointments of workers.

LIMITATIONS ON THE POWER OF THE GOVERNMENT BY BOTSWANA'S

CONSTITUTION
Strengths
Limited presidential term: According to the constitution the presidents can only occupy
the presidency for 10 years. This can reduce the chances of coruption and abuse of power
and also promote democracy.
-Consultation: The constitution demands the leaders to consult their electorates before
making major decisions. Eg. Through referendum
3Branches of government: The three branches of government allows for decentralization
of power and curb abuse of power by those in power through checks and balances
-Government can be challenged by civil society: The constitution allows the citizens to
take the government to court. People can challenge some laws in the constitution.
-Rule of law: The government obeys the court orders
-Oversight institutions: The constitution allows some institutions. Eg. DCEC, IBC, NGOS,
Office of the Ombudsman and Bogosi held in promoting good governance and monitor the
government of the day.

Weakneses

-Presidential immunity: According to the constitution, people are not allowed to take the
president to court. This gives an impression that the president is above the law and
untouchable.

-Some people are members of two branches: Some people are members of the executive
and the legislature. They initiate some policies at the executive an rubber stamp then at the
legislature
-Inadequate consultation: Sometimes the leaders take decisions without consulting with the
citizens. Eg. Salary increment of civil servants.
 -The president can make decisionsthat cannot be
foreigners without providing answers for his decision.questioned: eg, the president can depot
-The executivebranch has more powers than the
legislatnre and the
limits the checks and balances in the executive. judiciary: This

ROLE OF VARIOUS INSTITUTIONS IN PROMOTING GO0D GOVERNANCE

MEDIA

Positives

-Promotes transparency: Disseminates information about activities around the country and
the world. Through the media the nation can be made aware of what is
happening around.
-Promotes accountability: Openly criticize the government. Leaders can be questioned and
provide answers. Eg, Matlho a phage and The Eye
-Educate people on national issues: eg. Unemployment, government policies, poverty
initiative policies eg. Letlhabile, Batho Pele and State of the Nation Address.
-Expose wrong doings by the leaders: The media report corruption practices, nepotism by
leaders.

Negatives
-Mostly based in urban areas: Which means people in rural areas will not easily get
information through the media.

-They exaggerate issues: Which can mislead the nation and result in conflicts.
-They can be biased: Daily news, BTV and RBl mostly give impression that the
government is always doing good. They only report positive about the ruling party. The
ruling party is given more coverage than the opposition parties.

DIRECTORATE ON CORRUPTION AND ECONOMIC CRIME

Positives

-Promote accountability: The leaders are forced to be answerable for their actions. During
investigation, they ask questions and the relevant officer has to be answerable.
-Promote transparency: Through investigation al the bad deeds wil be known. They will
write a report and give to the relevant authorities hernce any bad deeds will be known.
Educate the nation about the dangers of corruption on the economy of the enuntry:
Hence they promote corruption free society.
-Build confidenceon localand fercign investors: This promotes investment. Business
people prefer less corrupt countries. As they fight corruption the investors will start their
businesses in Botswana and that will create more jobs for the locals.

Negatives
-Based in urban areas: Some people in rural areas do not get the services of DCECas most
of them do not know the existence of the office. So corruption takes place in
rural areas
without being reported.
-Take long time to attend to corruption cases: Some of the reported cases take a long time
to be investigated by DCEC therefore compromising thc quality of
investigations.
-Insufficient funds can limit the investigations: The DCEC do not have enough funds to
carry out thorough investigations therefore compromising the quality of investigation hence
leaving out some corruption
-Can be biased because they funded by the government: The DCEC operates under the
office of the president, so they tend to investigate some cases and leave the others.

INDEPENDENT ELECTORAL COMMISSION (IEC)

Positives

-Promote liberal democracy: Peoplc are given achance to elect their leaders/ govemment
after every 5 years.
-Promotes transparency: The counting is done in public and the party agent can observe
election at the polling stations.
Conduct free and fair elections: IEC monitors electoral processes and give immediate
feedback for the purpose of smooth running of elections
-Voters education: Teaches people the importance of voting, therefore promoing
democracy.
 Negatives
-yoter apathy: We stillhave people who abstain from voting because of lack of voter
education by lEC

-Spoiledvotes: There are still spoiled votes regardless of the voter education provided by the
IEC

OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN

Positives

-Promote accountability: Any wrong doing by the public officer willbe accounted for.
During the investigations the relevant officer has to be answerable to investigations.
-Promote transparency:Any wrong doing by officers will be made known because they
wrile a report and give it to relevant authorities.
-Encourage good relations between supervisors and supervisees, between public
servants and those that they serve.

-Give people chance to register their complaints: The citizens are given a platform to
complain and get help.

Negatives
-Based in urban areas: So people in rural arcas do not get the services of office of
Ombudsman as most of them donot know about the existence of the office.
-Take long to attend some cases: Some of the reported cases take long to be attended to and
investigated by the Ombudsman therefore compromising the quality of investigation.
-Insufficient funds: The office does not have enough money to carry their operation around
the country and employ enough human resource.

BOGOSI
Positives

-Promote peace by settling disputes: They settle minor cases like insults at the Kgotla.
-Advice the government on matters relating to traditions: Ensures that the laws that are
taken by the government do not interfere with their culture.
-Custodian of culture: They spearhead cultural activities like Dikgafela, Letsema and
initiation ceremonies.

-Promote accountability: Ntlo ya Dikgosi can question the legislature/parliament.

-Promote national principles: eg democracy (whereby people are given a chance to have a
say in kgotla meetings) and Botho ( by punishing wrong doers at the Kgotla).

Negatives
-They can focus on their morafe only and not the whole country.
-There might be some conflict between chiefs at Ntlo ya Dikgosi: Minor groups VS Superior
groups.

NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS

Positives

-Educates people about their rights: To bring awareness about human rights eg. Emang
Basadi, Women Against Rape.
-Encourage accountability: They can question discriminatory laws so that there are
amendments and abolishment. They can question the decision of the government.
-Promote transparency: They report the wrong doings by the government. Eg. The
Amnesty International and Survival International.

-Help solve public issues: Emang Basadi fighting Domestic Violence, Red Cross helping
eradicate poverty (people affected by natural disasters)
-Respect the interest and rights of the disadvantaged groups: For example Survival
International protects Basarwa, Red Cross represent the interest of people atfected by natural
disasters eg. Floods

-Offer legal assistance: Offer justice to the abuse of children and women eg. Bmang Basadi
can fund women for cases at court.

Neagatives
-Insufficient funds: Thiswill limit them from doing their mandate/duties hence the problems
will continue.

-Mostly based in urban areas: So people in rural areas will not be able to get their services
 (U

-May cause conflicts: For example

government and the citizens, EmangSurvival international can cause conflicts between the
and brcakdowa of Basadi can cause conflicts which will lead to
families divorce
-Tarnish the name of the country
reported Botswana and they exaggerateinternationally: For example Survival
International
This can result in the country being issues which can tarnish the name internationally.
and international activities) sanctioned (excluded from other world countries, trade

HOW TRANSPARENCY AND

GOVERNANCE ACCOUNTABILITY PROMOTES GOOD
-Removes suspicion and instils trust on people about
leaders: When there is free flow of
information and good explanations by the leaders, the nation
work hand in hand with the leaders will trust the leadership and
hence peaceful country.
-Minimise corraption: When there is transparency, there are less
everything will be made known to the nation. chances of corruption as
-Promote consultation between people and the leaders:
Accountability will promote
consultation between the leaders and people so that people
get feedback from the leaders. get a chance to give opinions and

-Promote sufficient use of resources: Where there is

all and accountability will promote transparency, the resources will benet
effective trace of government resources.

SOCIALCONTRACT
Is the unwritten agreement between the
leaders and the voters
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE ELECTED AND ELECTORATE ATLOCAL
LEVEL (BETWEEN COMMUNITY AND
COUNCILLOR)
-People elect their Councillor and enter into Social Contract.
-Consultation: the councillor consults his electorates before making the decision at the full
council

-Accountability: If people in the wards/electorates ask for explanations and their councillors
have to be accoutable.

-Councillor inform the electorates on government policies

RELAIIONSHIP BETWEEN THE ELECTED AND ELECTORATES AT
NATIONAL LEVEL (BETWEEN PEOPLE AND
MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT)
-Electorate elect their MP and cnter into Social Contract
-They enter into Social contract
-Consultation: Thc Member of Parliament consults his electorate beforc
at the parliament. The clectorates gives ideas to their MP. making the decision

-Accountability: Electorate ask for explanation and their MP has to be

need clarity in some issues affecting them accountable when they

DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT
-There is accountability: The leaders provide answers and give
decisions and actions
explanation for their

-There is transparency: The government does not operate in secrecy, the nation is informed
about the decision taken. There is free flow of information.

-There is respect for human rights: People respect other's human rights as stated in the UN
Charter. Eg. Right to life, right to vote.
-There is consultation: the leaders visit people and get their opinions and ideas before
making important decisions.
-Decentralised powers: The power is divided into different people eg. The Three branches
of government.

COMPARE AND CONTRAST B0TSWANA'S CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY

WITH FORMS OF GOVERNMENT IN THE WORLD

DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT VS MONARCHY

SIMILARITIES

-Hierarchy consists of the lcader at the top

-They use the constitution to run the country

-Have government
 DIFFERENCES
ABSOLUTE MOONARCHY
DEMOCRACY
-Head of state is the president -Head of state is the King or Queen
-Leadership is through clections -leadership is hereditary
-All people are equal before the law -Some people are above the law (The Royals)
-No one is allowed to criticize leaders
-Anyone is free to criticize the leaders
-King can make laws of his own
-Laws are made through parliament
-Changes are made by the King or Queen
-There is always consultation with the
citizens without consultation
-Opposition parties are prohibited
-There are opposition political parties

DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT AUTOCRATICINON DEMOCRATIC

-There is no frec flow of information which
-There is transparency: Free flow of leads to increased corruption by the leaders
information from leaders to people
-Leaders are not accountable to anyone since
-There is accountability
they are not voted intopower
-There is respect for human rightseg. Right -Human rights are violated. eg. There are
mass killings of people.
to vote, people get the chance to vote for
their leaders
-There is consultation because the leaders are -They are not votcd into power so they do not
consult with the nation.
voted into power so they consult with the
electorates.
-Decentralised powers to the three branches -Centralized power around the president. E.g.
Makes laws, they control the army and they
control the land, control the money
-Maximum use of force, eg. You get the
-Minimal use of force eg, you get the
minimum punishment maximum punishment.

REVISIONQUEASTIONS

AGOOD GOVERNMENT (6)

1. EXPLAIN ANY THREE CHARACTERISTICS OF
BOTSWANA'S CONSTITUTION (6)
2. EXPLAIN THE MAIN FEATURES OF
BOTSWANA GOVERNMENT (6)
3. OUTLINE SIX STEPS OF THE FORMATIONOF
help
4. EVALUATE BOTSWANA'S CONSTITUTION (8)
OF THE LEGISLATURE (6)
5. DESCRIBE THE FUNCTIONS AND POWERS
BALANCES IN THE GOVERNMENT (4)
6. WITH EXAMPLE EXPLAIN CHEKS AND
BOTSWANA (6)
7. OUTLINE ANY SIX STAGES OF LAW MAKING IN
8. EVALUATE THE ROLE OF OPPOSITION PARTIES IN PROMOTING GOOD GOVERNANCE IN
BOTSWANA (8)

9, EXPLAIN THE ROLE OF THE MEDIA IN PROMOTING GOOD GOVERNANCE IN BOTSWANA

(6)

10.EVALUATE BOTSWANA'S ELECTORAL SYSTEM (8)

11.COMPARE AND CONTRAST BOTSWANA'S DEMOCRATICGOVEREMENT WITH
SWAZILAND'S MONARCHY (8)

12. EXPLAIN TWO WAYS IN WHICH TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY PROMOTE GOOD
GOVERNMANCE IN BOTSWANA (6)

13. STATE SIX REASONS FOR VOTER APARTHY (6)

14. EXPLAIN THE ROLE OF IEC IN PROMOTING GOOD GOVERNA NCE (6)