TE OF SOUTH TU E TI
IN S
RICA AF
MEDIA
RN
MISA
BOTSWANA P ROMOTING MEDIA DIVERSITY P LURALISM S ELF-SUFFICIENCY INDEPENDENCE
Key Human Rights issues from Civil Society Summary of Political Party Manifestos
Botswana General Elections
Botswana General Elections 2019 Botswana General Elections
Key Human Rights issues from Civil Society Summary of Political Party Manifestos
Contents Foreword Introduction This booklet has been published thanks to the support of Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES)
2 3
Key Human Rights Issues
5 -6
Manifestos:
7 - 43
Alliance for Progressiveness (AP) Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Real Alternative Party (RAP) Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC)
7 17 27 37
Conclusion
44
List of UPR NGO Working Group Members
45
This publication has been made possible through the collaborative work of DITSHWANELO staff, interns and volunteers. September 2019
MANIFESTOS1
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
MANIFESTOS ii
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
MANIFESTOS 1
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
Key Human Rights issues from Civil Society Summary of Political Party Manifestos
Botswana General Elections
Key Human Rights issues from Civil Society Summary of Political Party Manifestos
Botswana General Elections
FOREWORD
INTRODUCTION
During the 2014 General Elections, the UPR NGO Working Group produced its first election booklet which listed key human rights submitted to the UN Human Rights Council for Botswana’s 2nd Cycle UPR 2013. The purpose was to enable voters to be informed about how those key human rights issues were incorporated in the manifestos of the main political parties. In preparation for the 2019 General Elections, the UPR NGO Working Group has produced this booklet. It lists key human rights issues which were raised by civil society, for Botswana’s 3rd Cycle UPR 2018 and identifies how these are addressed in the manifestos of: Alliance for Progressives (AP); Botswana Democratic Party (BDP); Real Alternative Party (RAP) and the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) (comprising Botswana Congress Party, Botswana National Front, and Botswana Peoples’ Party). The manifesto of the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) was launched on 7 September 2019, however, repeated attempts to obtain a copy, proved futile. The Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) was expelled from the UDC IN 2018. This expulsion was unsuccessfully legally challenged by the BMD during 2018-2019. It is contesting outside the UDC. We were unable to obtain the BMD Manifesto after requesting it. We hope that the information in this Election Booklet will be of use to those citizens who are committed to strengthening of our human rights culture in Botswana. Holding our leaders accountable for electoral promises made is only possible when the citizenry is informed about candidates’ promises contained in the manifestos of their political parties.
This booklet is a product of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) NGO Working Group. The UPR NGO Working Group was established in 2012 for Botswana’s 2nd Cycle of its Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process in 2013. The members of the UPR NGO Working Group are: Botswana Council of Non-Governmental Organisations (BOCONGO); DITSHWANEO – The Botswana Centre for Human Rights; Kuru Family of Organisations; Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals of Botswana (LeGaBiBo); Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA – Botswana), and Rainbow Identity Association (RIA). Since 2012 to date, the UPR NGO Working Group has strongly advocated for the adoption of the Comprehensive Human Rights Strategy and National Action Plan (CHRSNAP) linked to Botswana’s national development priorities. It was presented as a key 2013 UPR NGO Working Group recommendation to the UN Human Rights Council and accepted by the Government of Botswana following our lobbying of relevant stakeholders, both in Botswana and at the UN Human Rights Council. In the 2013 State of the Nation Address, former President Khama stated that the Government had adopted CHRSNAP. During 2019, the Human Rights Unit was established in the Office of the President, tasked with the production and implementation of CHRSNAP. CHRSNAP, as envisaged by the UPR NGO Working Group, comprises 5 phases: Preparation, Elaboration of the National Action Plan, Implementation, Monitoring, and Evaluation. The UPR NGO Working Group is working with civil society organisations and will work with the newly established Human Rights Unit in the Office of the President to deliver CHRSNAP. The initial preparatory CHRSNAP work was begun in 2013 with the Ministry of Defence, Justice and Security (MDJS).
Alice Mogwe Director – DITSHWANELO - The Botswana Centre for Human Rights Facilitator- UPR NGO Working Group September 2019
In April 2013, following Botswana’s 2nd Cycle UPR, the MDJS and DITSHWANELO hosted a workshop, where it was decided that a National Coordinating Committee (NCC) would be established to oversee the coordination of the process and the production of the CHRSNAP. It comprised both civil society organisations and senior government officials. It was headed by MDJS. However, following a June 2014 Presidential Directive transferring the human rights mandate from the MDJS to the Office of the Presidential Affairs and Public Administration (MOPAPA), progress was halted pending the establishment of the Human Rights Unit and the transformation of the Office of the Ombudsman into a hybrid National Human Rights Institution. During 2016 and 2017, the UPR NGO Working Group facilitated three CSO workshops (at the request of the Government) to prepare the UPR State Report for Botswana’s 3rd Cycle UPR in January 2018. DITSHWANELO, as the Facilitator of the UPR NGO Working Group and MISA as one of the core members, co-facilitated the CSO workshops in Maun, Francistown and Gaborone. The UPR NGO Working Group produced a UPR Stakeholder (CSO) Report containing the issues raised by the CSOs who had participated in the 2016 and 2017 UPR Preparatory Workshops. These were: Access to Justice; Children’s Rights; Citizenship; Death Penalty; Education; Environment; Freedom of and Access to Information; Gender; Governance; Healthcare; Indigenous Peoples; Land; National Human Rights Institution; Poverty Alleviation; and Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression. In November 2018 the UPR NGO Working Group held a CSO workshop to discuss progress in the production of the Comprehensive Human Rights Strategy and National Action Plan (CHRSNAP) linked to Botswana’s national development priorities. Issues raised in November 2018 were: corruption; business and human rights; access to information; tax justice; equitable distribution of resources; access to health; victims’ rights; criminalisation and non-recognition of LGBTIQ community; women’s rights; access to justice for children; accountability and independent monitoring; welfare for expectant mothers; refugee status in Botswana; cold cases; the role of mother tongue in education; policies and programmes; inclusion of people with disabilities; lack of land for youth; advocacy and services limited to the southern part of Botswana; and citizenship in rural areas. Broad issues included: Sustainability of Civil Society; National Human Rights Institution and how inclusive it will be of CSOs. For the purposes of this 2019 Booklet, the UPR NGO Working Group has elected to focus on the human rights issues submitted to the UN Human Rights Council for Botswana’s 3rd Cycle UPR in January 2018.
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
MANIFESTOS 2
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
MANIFESTOS 3
Key Human Rights issues from Civil Society Summary of Political Party Manifestos
Botswana General Elections
Key Human Rights issues from Civil Society Summary of Political Party Manifestos
Botswana General Elections
This booklet aims:
KEY HUMAN RIGHT ISSUES
•
To inform the public about the position of the parties on the fifteen (15) key issues identified by civil society through the different CSO workshops.
•
To ensure that voters are well-informed about party commitments when they exercise their right to vote on 23 October 2019.
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To enable the public to hold political parties accountable in relation to their election promises.
The issues which are highlighted in this Election Booklet, are based on the following fifteen key human rights issues identified by civil society organisations, in consultations (held in 2016 and 2017) in the Comprehensive Human Rights Strategy and National Action Plan (CHRSNAP) process identified by the following civil society organisations: Bible Society Botswana, BOCONET (Botswana Community Based Organisation Network), BOFOD (Botswana Federation of the Disabled), Bokanamo Conservation Trust, BOLama ( Botswana Labour Migrants Association), BONELA (Botswana Network on Ethics, Law and HIV/AIDS), BONEPWA (Botswana Network of People Living with Aids), BOSASNET, Botswana Tourism Organisation, DITSHWANELO- The Centre for Human Rights, Environmental Conservation Trust, Environmental Heritage, Green Fingers Association, Kagisano Women’s Shelter, Kwedom Council, LeGaBiBo (Lesbians, Gays and Bisexual of Botswana), Lights and Courage Centre, Mazibakufa Orphans and Vulnerable Children, Men and Boys for Gender Justice, Methodist Church, MISA Botswana, Mmegi (Media), NCONGO (Ngamiland Council of NonGovernmental Organistaios), Rainbow Identity Association, RETENG, Stepping Stones International, Thapong Artists, Ultimate Youth, WAR (Women Against Rape), Young Love. This booklet was done in preparations for the 23 October 2019 General Elections in Botswana. Issues raised in Civil Society Stakeholder Report for 3rd Cycle UPR 2018:
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
MANIFESTOS 4
•
Access to Justice
•
Children’s Rights
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Citizenship
•
Death Penalty
•
Education
•
Environment
•
Freedom of and Access to Information
•
Gender
•
Governance
•
Health Care
•
Indigenous Peoples
•
Land
•
National Human Rights Institution (NHRI)
•
Poverty Alleviation
•
Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE)
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
MANIFESTOS 5
Key Human Rights issues from Civil Society Summary of Political Party Manifestos
Botswana General Elections
Key Human Rights issues from Civil Society Summary of Political Party Manifestos
Botswana General Elections
Botswana General Elections 2019 Issues 1. Access to Justice 2. Children’s Rights 3. Citizenship 4. Death Penalty 5. Education 6. Environment 7. Freedom of and Access to Information 8. Gender 9. Governance 10 Healthcare 11. Indigenous People 12. Land 13. National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) 14. Poverty Alleviation 15. Sexual Orientation Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE)
Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) YES YES NO NO YES YES YES
Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) YES YES YES NO YES NO YES
Alliance For Progressiveness (AP) NO NO NO NO YES NO YES
Real Alternative Party (RAP)
YES YES YES YES
YES YES YES YES
YES YES YES NO
YES YES YES YES
YES NO
NO YES
YES NO
YES NO
YES NO
YES NO
NO NO
YES YES
YES YES NO NO YES YES YES
Botswana General Elections 2019 Alliance For Progressives (AP) Issues
What manifesto says in relation to the issue
What Party Promises to do on the issue (Electoral Promises)
Access to Justice
NOT INCLUDED
NOT INCLUDED
Children’s Rights
NOT INCLUDED
NOT INCLUDED
Citizenship
NOT INCLUDED
NOT INCLUDED
Death Penalty
NOT INCLUDED
NOT INCLUDED
Education
Teachers should be well-trained and well-remunerated, and their conditions prioritised.
Ignite a learning and skills development revolution which will inspire passion.
Our education system should give us great entrepreneurs, athletes and artists of all kinds.
Invest 50% of the education budget on Vocational and Technical training.
The transformational agenda of our people will not be possible without a radically different approach to education at all stages, one which both recognises the importance of technical skills involved in sports and the creative arts, and a magnificent application of technology.
Increase the technical/vocational share of students in secondary school to 50% from the current 8%.
We need consensus on some of the core elements we wish to see shape the character of youth and citizens.
Enhance the adoption of Information Communications Technology (ICT) from primary school upwards by ensuring that every student has access to computer power.
Reduce the teacher-student ratio to 1:25 at most, at primary schools and secondary schools.
We need an Education system which instils a new value system which is inspired by and
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
MANIFESTOS6 MANIFESTOS 6
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
MANIFESTOS7 MANIFESTOS 7
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
Key Human Rights issues from Civil Society Summary of Political Party Manifestos
Botswana General Elections
Key Human Rights issues from Civil Society Summary of Political Party Manifestos
Botswana General Elections
Botswana General Elections 2019 nourishes integrity, honesty, truth, decency and respect for the sanctity of the human life.
Botswana General Elections 2019
Commit at least 3% of Botswana’s budget towards research and development.
In a properly functioning democracy, the three arms of government, together with oversight bodies as well as a vibrant, independent and professional media are an absolute necessity.
Decentralise school administration and allow school authorities more autonomy in decision making regarding the budget.
If none of these is working as it should, then democracy is incomplete and must be established.
Through further training upgrade the minimum qualifications of teachers and instructors, to improve the quality of education.
Improve teachers’ working conditions and remuneration to be at par with those of other professionals such as medical doctors.
NOT INCLUDED
NOT INCLUDED
Freedom of and Access to Information
Believe in a free and open society based on international norms of freedom of expression; in other words, freedom to hear and to be heard.
To create an enabling environment for a free, professional and self-regulating press.
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
MANIFESTOS8 MANIFESTOS 8
Act and the Media Practitioners Act that hamper the media from functioning as a fourth estate of democracy, alongside the executive, legislature and judiciary.
Do away with the “government media” set up, and introduce a proper “Public Media” instead, whose news coverage will not be subjected to neither brazen nor subtle censorship by government
Encourage investigative reporting, with a view to introducing transparency and killing the corruption that has become endemic in Botswana over the years, jeopardizing our country’s standing in the international community.
Increase the budget for education so that salaries will account for a third of the total budget.
Environment
Amend such laws as the Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA).
Work collaboratively with Media Unions in Botswana and clear up all impediments to free, pluralistic and diverse media with guaranteed editorial independence.
Introduce a three-tier system of Public, Private and Community UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
MANIFESTOS9 MANIFESTOS 9
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
Key Human Rights issues from Civil Society Summary of Political Party Manifestos
Botswana General Elections
Key Human Rights issues from Civil Society Summary of Political Party Manifestos
Botswana General Elections
Botswana General Elections 2019
Botswana General Elections 2019
media, in line with international standards.
independence and choice of paid or non-paid work.
Enact laws to promote selfregulation of the media to ensure a free and unfettered Press. Gender
Women play a key role especially in rural economies where the fight against poverty is most pressing.
Women are central to family food security and nutrition, being responsible for food selection and preparation and the care and health of children and family members.
Yet, women are underrepresented in leadership and decision-making bodies, resulting in policies which exclude women-specific issues such as secure land rights.
When women have access to land, their income earning capacity increases significantly and they help to break the cycle of poverty.
Our policies will focus on encouraging shared decisionmaking in relationships, especially relating to economic
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
MANIFESTOS10 MANIFESTOS 10
Eliminate multiple forms of discrimination against women through a substantive legal and regulatory framework to guarantee equal opportunity.
programmes, including financial literacy and management skills.
Effectively educate and sensitise the nation to strengthen advocacy campaign strategies to combat culturally entrenched attitudes that discriminate against women.
Governance
A new Botswana, as represented by the AP, will not accept a governance system. which we know lacks adequate checks and balances in the form of an Executive which derives disproportionate power from the Constitution, and from years and years of selfinterested budgeting.
Introduce a hybrid proportional representation system and introduce quotas in the public service.
Ratify and implement local and international instruments such as the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination (CEDAW) and the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development.
Reform our Government so that it exercises inclusive, effective and accountable form of governance which values, inculcates, and cultivates competence, excellence, integrity, and decency in those who serve in it, and brings out the best in the people of Botswana.
Ensure that all women have the tools to fully participate in the economy by investing in women’s organisations and cooperatives to strengthen their visibility and representation.
Promote the rule of law through predictable written rules, institutional capacity, education and the right to information.
Reform essential services such as the police.
De-link military security services from municipal ones.
Ensure that key oversight institutions are directly accountable to Parliament (Ombudsman, Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC), Auditor General and Independent Electoral Commission).
Completely overhaul the Directorate of Intelligence and Security Services (DISS).
Prioritise asset development including capital, to secure land and to support skill-building UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
MANIFESTOS11 MANIFESTOS 11
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
Key Human Rights issues from Civil Society Summary of Political Party Manifestos
Botswana General Elections
Key Human Rights issues from Civil Society Summary of Political Party Manifestos
Botswana General Elections 2019
Botswana General Elections 2019
Make it obligatory that international treaties are signed only through the consent and authority of Parliament.
inspired by belief in our people, love of country and pride in our workmanship.
Give Parliament authority to approve Botswana envoys to nations and multilateral institutions.
Health Care
Establish a Human Rights Commission, Youth Commission, Arts Council, and Gender Commission, all reporting to Parliament.
Recently, in early 2019 the Minister of Health and Wellness admitted that he is aware of the drug shortages in most facilities, thus lending credence to reports that the Central Medical Stores is overstocked with medicines which ultimately expire before reaching health facilities.
Every year dedicate a forum for Civil Society and other Actors to dialogue with Parliament in a formal setting, to share experiences, lessons and adopt resolutions.
It was also reported in Parliament that the Nyangabgwe referral hospital in Francistown is almost dysfunctional as a result of malfunctioning operating theatres - a situation which has gone on for long.
Introduce a public service reform to be termed “Batho ka batho” (By the people, for the people) – a whole new culture of work ethic based on a strongly defined Code of Ethics,
POLITICAL PARTY
MANIFESTOS12 MANIFESTOS 12
It is almost a decade since the Ministry of Health (MoHW) strategic Plan (2010-2020) was published. Its vision expressed in Integrated Health Services Plan (IHSP) aims to provide “allpeople in Botswana with high level health care”.
There is still no indication of improvement in health care.
Establish a framework to promote dialogue between people and their elected representatives – along the lines of the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP
Botswana General Elections
Goal: To set an all-inclusive healthcare system • equip, and adequately staff hospitals and clinics with full scale psychiatric and counselling units. • separate psychiatric patients suffering from mental disorders from non-psychotic patients, instead of placing them in the same category. • ensure attraction and retention of qualified health practitioners in order to avoid current understaffing problems in public hospitals, by providing incentives and competitive packages. • invest in the provision of proper processes and procedures for appointment, promotions and placement of personnel on the basis of skills and merit rather than political loyalty.
Reduce doctor-patient and nurse-patient ratios respectively.
Set up, in real and practical terms, effective and efficient
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
MANIFESTOS13 MANIFESTOS 13
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
Key Human Rights issues from Civil Society Summary of Political Party Manifestos
Botswana General Elections
Key Human Rights issues from Civil Society Summary of Political Party Manifestos
Botswana General Elections
Botswana General Elections 2019 Other observations are that year after year there have been shortages of blankets for patients in hospitals, especially during winter when relatives bring blankets from home for patients. This practice compromises the hygienic status of the hospital.
telemedicine services including the use of “remote monitoring tools” for patients with chronic illnesses.
Botswana General Elections 2019 Land
Emulate and adopt the Chile method of procurement which provides “adequate levels of openness, competition, a level playing field for suppliers and fairly clear bidding procedure”.
Land is a finite resource which sustains a country through food production and settlement and is at the core of a country’s being. Batswana are plagued with massive landlessness (despite huge swathes of unoccupied land) as evidenced by long lines for plot allocation and many years of waiting for allocation of a plot.
Train personnel in Logistics Management to ensure availability of an adequate number of skilled health practitioners who will provide a consistent supply and distribution of drugs from Central Medical Stores (CMS) to all health facilities.
Produce and store a Georeferenced (digital) database of all land in Botswana for efficient, easy land administration process.
Improve partnerships with the local courier industry to facilitate timely, smooth and uninterrupted transportation of drugs and medical supplies to all the health facilities.
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
NOT INCLUDED
Clear, through capacitation, the land-application backlogs as a matter of urgency. For example, train and re-train land board
NOT INCLUDED
MANIFESTOS14 MANIFESTOS 14
Put in place mechanisms to enable young people to acquire land for use and guard against expropriation by those who would have otherwise not qualified to such land. At the same time create a financial environment that is more conducive to home ownership as opposed to acquisition of mobile property.
Through legislation, make it possible for tribal land to be used as security by financial institutions.
Ensure the existence of an inbuilt monitoring system which tracks the supply and distribution of drugs to intended destinations.
Indigenous Peoples
Deal with long standing and emotive issue of absentee landlords and revert land back to the state upon reasonable compensation of the landlord, for accountable and transparent redistribution and productive use.
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
MANIFESTOS15 MANIFESTOS 15
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
Key Human Rights issues from Civil Society Summary of Political Party Manifestos
Botswana General Elections
Key Human Rights issues from Civil Society Summary of Political Party Manifestos
Botswana General Elections
Botswana General Elections 2019 staff on record keeping and service delivery.
Reserve certain pieces of land in Botswana for collaborative agricultural production.
Botswana General Elections 2019 Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Issues Access to Justice Children’s Rights
Limit and control foreign ownership of land in Botswana.
What manifesto says in relation What Party Promises to do on to the issue the issue (Electoral Promises) Strength the criminal justice system. Subsidise childcare available to low-income families, introduce the first support for children with special needs in preschools, and pass a law outlining the rights of children in our Constitution.
Ensure that all land to be allocated is serviced with water, electricity and roads to reduce land allocation time.
Form bold alliances, on favourable terms to Botswana, especially with those companies that have a strong record in dryland farming.
Increase land servicing ten-fold. National Human Rights
NOT INCLUDED
NOT INCLUDED
Poverty Alleviation
NOT INCLUDED
NOT INCLUDED
Sexual Orientation Gender Identity and Expression
NOT INCLUDED
NOT INCLUDED
POLITICAL PARTY
MANIFESTOS16 MANIFESTOS 16
Improve workplace conditions for those who work with young children. Transform the quality of early childhood care and education (ECCE) by ensuring higher premium for providers with highly qualified staff. Punish all those who abuse children; and introduce a sex offenders and pedophile record.
Citizenship Death Penalty
NOT INCLUDED NOT INCLUDED
NOT INCLUDED NOT INCLUDED
Education
The Botswana Education and Training Sector Strategic Plan (ETSSP) was introduced to strengthen the match between qualifications and labour market requirements, ensuring that education outputs are more closely aligned to future employment needs.
Accelerate and promote quality and access to early childhood education and care to reach at least 75%.
The BDP will fully implement ETSSP to create a balance between academic pursuits and technical and vocational education thus challenging perceptions that the TVET
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP
Maintain 84-calendar days’ maternity leave on full pay and introduce a 28-calendar day paternity leave on full pay.
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
MANIFESTOS17 MANIFESTOS 17
Promote and facilitate the establishment of schools relevant to the international community at tertiary level. Merge and sharpen the focus of some tertiary institutions for efficiency as informed by the dictates of the economy. Facilitate private sector participation through UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
Key Human Rights issues from Civil Society Summary of Political Party Manifestos
Botswana General Elections
Key Human Rights issues from Civil Society Summary of Political Party Manifestos
Botswana General Elections
Botswana General Elections 2019 pathway is inferior and less prestigious.
Botswana General Elections 2019
conditional leasing of institutional campuses based on relevance of proposals.
Drive up standards of learning across different schools by putting in place some of the finest school leaders to lead our schools.
The successful implementation of ETSSP requires all Review the Top Achiever’s stakeholders: teachers, the programme for efficiency and private sector, parents and effectiveness. government to work together as a team. Develop and implement focused inputs to improve the quality of our education as part of its delivery of a lifelong learning ecosystem.
Build more schools and transform them into integrated schools and reduce class sizes to around 30. Work closely with teachers’ unions to remove any impediments and to ensure that their conditions of service facilitate and do not impede their delivery of quality education.
Develop and leverage human, capital, and technological resources for a national research and development agenda. Overhaul and modernise the curriculum, so as to respond to the challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Our curriculum will respond to the national needs and the country`s developmental trajectory. The curriculum will support greater levels of research, development and innovation.
Make our schools more accessible to children with special needs, including those living with disabilities and to members of vulnerable communities. Introduce the teaching of various indigenous languages in our classrooms and at university to ensure that learners’ cultures and languages are developed and promoted.
Revise strategies which target the achievement of quality teaching and learning outcomes by enhancing the skills and competencies of educators, including the school management.
Continue to expand funding for learners at tertiary institutions by reviewing the current grant loan scheme and encourage private sector participation.
Adequately resource schools with e-books, books, teachers, computers, and modern technology to facilitate learning in a modern classroom.
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
MANIFESTOS18 MANIFESTOS 18
Establish strong research and development at tertiary institutions with strong Intellectual Property (IP) arrangements.
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
MANIFESTOS19 MANIFESTOS 19
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
Key Human Rights issues from Civil Society Summary of Political Party Manifestos
Botswana General Elections
Key Human Rights issues from Civil Society Summary of Political Party Manifestos
Botswana General Elections
Botswana General Elections 2019
Botswana General Elections 2019
Translate research and development into products which will enhance our productivity standing. National Agriculture Processing (NAPRO) and its products. Develop a robust knowledge economy.
Gender
Approve and implement, in phases, the national resources development plan.
Environment
Freedom of and Access to Information
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
Climate change requires more research. The BDP in the next 5 years will intensify research and consult widely on the subject.
Committed to a free and vibrant press. As a party, we will continue to promote cordial relations with the Press Council of Botswana, the Botswana Media and Allied Workers Union (BOMAWU) and the Botswana Editors Forum. We will create a conducive
MANIFESTOS20 MANIFESTOS 20
environment in which the media can function without harassment. The BDP led government will work toward developing a legislative framework that will allow the media to self-regulate. . GBV is ravaging our country. Botswana has high levels of rape and other types of sexual violence. GBV must be prevented before it happens, and where it unfortunately happens, strict punitive penalties must ensue.
Fully implement the ETSSP to create a balance between academic pursuits and technical and vocational education. Provide funding for research to investigate the impact of climate change in Botswana on the following: water, resilient crops, settlement structures and patterning, housing standards and material, and recycling groundwater reserves Provide funding for research to investigate the impact of climate change in Botswana on the following: water, resilient crops, settlement structures and patterning, housing standards and material, and recycling groundwater reserves
Review relevant legislation to toughen sentences for perpetrators of gender based violence. Develop strategies which will reduce instances of genderbased violence. Train the police and provide the necessary resources to enable them to better deal with cases of gender-based violence. Provide facilities for counselling victims of gender-based violence, as well as the rehabilitation of perpetrators of gender-based violence. Introduce a sex offender and pedophile record and identification system. Review policies and conduct research to identify the root causes of GBV and develop appropriate interventions to curb it.
Governance
A Constitutional review is due.
Prosecute those who misappropriate government funds and recover such funds.
In the next five years, we will have a broad-based consultative process of the review of the Strengthen parliament by Constitution of Botswana. making it more autonomous from government with UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
MANIFESTOS21 MANIFESTOS 21
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
Key Human Rights issues from Civil Society Summary of Political Party Manifestos
Botswana General Elections
A nation of our size, scale, and composition needs a strong, directly-elected parliament with real legislative and oversight powers, in order to effectively deliver national projects and curb corruption. Introduce new legislation making ministers and senior civil servants legally accountable for their decisions, and for the management of their departments in the public interest. Reform the Botswana local government structure through a Constitutional review. Encourage inclusive governance by picking lessons from the principles espoused in the traditional Kgotla system where ‘MAFOKO A KGOTLA A MANTLEOTLHE’, and all are encouraged to contribute through our belief system of THERISANYO (consultation), BOTHO, development, and making decisions freely through democratic processes.
Key Human Rights issues from Civil Society Summary of Political Party Manifestos
Botswana General Elections
Botswana General Elections 2019
Botswana General Elections 2019
strong committees and overseeing some organisations currently under government.
Enhance the quality of our democracy through the training of all government officials.
Strengthen national unity, build stronger security and governance institutions, and promote the country’s diplomacy in order to further improve development in Botswana and Africa at large.
Deliver a more integrated public service and increase the number of specialists in the civil service. Introduce a free and secure Digital Portal to transform and improve digital communication and doing business for our citizens, businesses and government.
Accord national security the highest priority. Increase the capacity and capability of the military, police, and other security agencies through the employment of additional personnel, the provision of modern equipment, and a commitment to professionalism, merit and excellence in the respective services to meet the needs of our growing population.
Ensure the digital agenda does not leave behind any citizens, especially older citizens who are most at risk of digital exclusion. Increase targeted policing and ensure our streets, schools, borders and communities are safe.
Run a government with an accountable, transparent, competent, and efficient public service with zero tolerance for corruption.
Strengthen the criminal justice system. Fight drugs, break-ins, human trafficking, money laundering, cybercrime, etc.
Making sure that individuals are held accountable for delivering on goods and services procured by government (in the private sector). Implement a law on the Declaration of Assets and liabilities and uphold the rule of law at all times.
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
MANIFESTOS22 MANIFESTOS 22
Health Care
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
Remains committed to delivering quality health care services to Batswana.
MANIFESTOS23 MANIFESTOS 23
Review of local government systems to enhance local response to challenges and improve participation of local authorities in planning. To strengthen district health management teams by decentralising health care services and ensuring availability of resources. UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
Key Human Rights issues from Civil Society Summary of Political Party Manifestos
Botswana General Elections
Key Human Rights issues from Civil Society Summary of Political Party Manifestos
Botswana General Elections
Botswana General Elections 2019 To achieve this goal BDP has developed and implemented various preventative and curative programmes such as HIV Treat All, pre-cancer screening, sexual reproductive health, to mention but a few, through the Universal Health care access, with 95% of Botswana population living within an 8km radius of a health facility with a remainder living within 8 – 15 km radius (Statistics Botswana). Additionally, the country has over 800 mobile clinics for remote areas. Emerging diseases and changes in lifestyle have resulted in an increase in non-communicable diseases, thereby reducing some of the positive health gains which had been achieved.
Increase the number of beds in the existing hospitals, and increase the number of district hospitals to decongest referral hospitals.
Botswana General Elections 2019 Indigenous Peoples
We acknowledge that the poverty headcount is high.
Improve the Remote Area Dwellers’ Programme (RADP).
Land
Botswana has three categories of land tenure: tribal land, state land, and freehold land.
Review the land policy and Tribal Land Act to rid it of any disadvantaging aspects to Batswana.
Develop more 24-hour health facilities and strengthen our emergency medical Services.
The majority of Batswana reside and farm Tribal land, which accounted for 71% of the country’s land in 2015. For the most part, rights over tribal land are limited to use rights.
Commit to strengthening eHealth and roll-out programmes such as patient management systems and telemedicine for specialised services to reach all corners of the country.
The BDP Government is committed to empowering Batswana through the Land Administration Procedures Capacity and Systems (LAPCAS) with this system all plots will be registered and given plot numbers thus making each certificate an equivalence of a title deed this will give plot owners not only use rights but ownership.
Establish rehabilitation centres for clients addicted to alcohol and other drugs. Continue training health care workers, with a commitment to fund specialist training and funding of teaching hospitals.
Other challenges in achieving our set goals include the shortage of health care workers, Increase the number of youthweak supply chains, and the friendly health care facilities shortage of equipment in some of our facilities. Roll out outdoor gyms to rural communities for health promotion and prevention of non-communicable diseases. Continue with the Treat All HIV intervention to reach the 100% treatment goal for those affected.
POLITICAL PARTY
MANIFESTOS24 MANIFESTOS 24
Accelerate access to land for small businesses and corporate tourism business within towns, along main roads, and tourism corridors, as well as in Botswana’s premier tourism enclaves of the Okavango, Chobe, Kgalagadi and others. Assist Batswana to optimise land use resources by ensuring that those with ploughing fields can utilise their land and other uses such as tourism and other commercial pursuits. Ensure that those with residential plots can convert them into Guest Houses or Offices.
National Human Rights Institution Poverty Alleviation
Establish a national health insurance fund.
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP
Accelerate access to land for small businesses and corporate agribusiness both at production and manufacturing levels.
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
NOT INCLUDED
NOT INCLUDED
Botswana’s new wealth is unevenly distributed socially and/or geographically.
Expand internship programme for job seekers for them to gain experience.
We acknowledge that the poverty headcount, at 16.3% (2015/16), is high and the BDP-
Introduce career counselling to all unemployed (16 - 35 years old).
MANIFESTOS25 MANIFESTOS 25
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
Key Human Rights issues from Civil Society Summary of Political Party Manifestos
Botswana General Elections
Key Human Rights issues from Civil Society Summary of Political Party Manifestos
Botswana General Elections
Botswana General Elections 2019 led government will work hard to grow the economy, create more jobs, create self-reliance programmes and create a conducive environment for entrepreneurial start-ups at local and national levels.
Strengthen community homebased care (CHBC). Strengthen orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) programmes.
Botswana General Elections 2019 Real Alternative Party Issues Access to Justice
What manifesto says in relation to the issue Justice is still beyond the reach of many disadvantaged persons due to overwhelming legal fees. Despite efforts made to support legal aid, legal aid offices by and large still have not yet covered all civil disputes.
Improve primary and secondary school feeding. Improve vulnerable group feeding.
There is still a limited and systemic or institutionalised structure for legal aid.
Improve the destitute programme.
The powerless are not involved in the lobbying, drafting, deliberating and formulating essential parts of all legislation.
Improve state old age and war veterans’ pensions. Improve the Remote Area Dwellers’ Programme (RADP). Labour intensive public works (‘Ipelegeng’) to be improved to construct long-term beneficial projects. Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression
NOT INCLUDED
What Party Promises to do on the issue Ensure the right to efficient and full legal representation. Facilitate for the transformation of law premised on social justice – based on a commitment to act with and on behalf of those suffering because of social neglect, social decisions or social structures and institutions. Change the law for a universal income, affordable housing for the homeless or public education reform. Free access to the justice system and legal aid will be a constitutional right. The right to free legal counsel will be mandatory before criminal courts.
NOT INCLUDED
There will be family courts, legal assistance office, and a dispute settlement office to provide free legal aid services. There will be courts of first instance, and labour courts, legal aid office to provide legal assistance and advice to victims of violence, and to labour litigants. Child courts will also be established with a specific composition and special trial proceedings to ensure free legal
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
MANIFESTOS26 MANIFESTOS 26
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
MANIFESTOS27 MANIFESTOS 27
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
Key Human Rights issues from Civil Society Summary of Political Party Manifestos
Botswana General Elections
Key Human Rights issues from Civil Society Summary of Political Party Manifestos
Botswana General Elections
Botswana General Elections 2019
Botswana General Elections 2019
assistance and effective legal representation.
Establish Homework Help Centre in libraries. Services will include Homework Help, Reading Buddies, Summer Reading challenge and Ready for Kindergarten
Law clinics to provide free legal assistance will be established. Children’s Rights
NOT INCLUDED
The motto of the education policy- “Every child- must be enrolled.”
Citizenship Death Penalty Education
NOT INCLUDED NOT INCLUDED Produce students who often come out with extremely poor literacy skills and generally no useful knowledge
NOT INCLUDED NOT INCLUDED The motto of the education policy- “Every child- must be enrolled.”
Apprenticeship programme with post-secondary institution will be provided to train those interested to learn.
A science –based teacher training programme and a high regard for teachers
Build the Mixed Reality Arena an educational institution which will allow various research and experimental designs.
Devoid of a holistic approach to prepare all individuals for a competent adult life emotionally, physically, and spiritually.
Relevant-based education; education that makes connections between Failed to provide each child with geographical discoveries and the ability to seek out their own scientific innovations, between uniqueness development of theory and development of practice. Failed to have education make a breakthrough in technology Champion the enhanced results of close teacher-student Current education system is not relationships for getting to designed and aligned to prepare know strengths and challenges its recipients for relevant job of every student. market. Adapt to the dualistic thought pattern of education (frugal knowledge)- the vast knowledge of traditional culture and indigenous ideas of proper and good life and academic achievement.
Provide education which considers long-term economic and employment strategies.
Environment
The problems continue to be acute as there is no law under BDP rule to enforce community rights. The absence of law leaves ordinary citizens with the burden of having to cope with sickness acquired from exposure to chemicals, while corporations are presumed innocent of harming human health unless proven guilty.
Introduce science education into early education
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
MANIFESTOS28 MANIFESTOS 28
Residential communities, households or families who live within the geographical area of mining are affected by substantially higher health risks and respiratory hazards. Others living in close proximity or many miles away, such as on a river polluted by mine tailings are also vulnerable to the effects of toxic chemicals
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
MANIFESTOS29 MANIFESTOS 29
Enact law that implicitly includes health as a guiding principle or objective supported by regulatory frameworks and guidance about the effects of toxic pollution and corporate responsibility. The law will serve to protect the communities who are particularly vulnerable to high risk locations of toxic chemicals, including compensation for loss.
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
Key Human Rights issues from Civil Society Summary of Political Party Manifestos
Botswana General Elections
Key Human Rights issues from Civil Society Summary of Political Party Manifestos
Botswana General Elections
Botswana General Elections 2019 Freedom of and Access to Information
Gender
NOT INCLUDED
Increase space for civil society and investigative journalism and all people who are most frequently sidelined and silenced.
Gender justice can be attributed to women and men sharing power with each other as decision-makers. Large gender gaps in unpaid work and care are a major driver of diminished economic opportunity. Women also face sexual harassment, violence, and restriction on their reproductive rights.
Commits to key principles of transparency of government actions, the accessibility of government services and information, and the responsiveness of government to new ideas, demands and needs Pursue gender equality in employment, pay, and leadership.
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
To be a credible government the state needs stronger coalitions of reformers from all
MANIFESTOS30 MANIFESTOS 30
levels of government, civil society, parliament, and the private sector, joined together and propelled by civic activism.
The strategy will offer legal certainty for government and citizens alike to work together and initiate necessary policies.
There is a lack of involvement of all relevant stakeholders from the public sector as well as civil society and the private sector in the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the government’s initiatives
Enact Government Public Access to Information legislation to enshrine a citizen’s right to access information and authorise decision-makers to release information.
Investments in infrastructure, affordable care service, early childhood education, family leave, and family- friendly workplaces.
Open government information to the public in order to maintain and advance a system of responsible and representative democratic government which is open, accountable, fair and effective Increase space for civil society and investigative journalism and all people who are most frequently sidelined and silenced.
Pertaining to political leadership women will play a more meaningful role than currently.
Commits to key principles of transparency of government actions, the accessibility of government services and information, and the responsiveness of government to new ideas, demands and needs.
Place women high(er) on the list of candidates to have an equal chance to be elected into power. Fulfill the demands of international treaties, such as the International Labour Conventions, Maputo Protocol, the Beijing Platform of Action and the Convention to Eliminate All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)
Governance
Botswana General Elections 2019
Health Care
Rising level of dissatisfaction with the services offered by the public health service. Concern about falling standard of health services and increasing inadequacies in the supply of healthcare services.
Develop a legal framework for an open government strategy. UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
MANIFESTOS31 MANIFESTOS 31
Health system will be universal and automatic and will introduce medical interventions which are designed to improve the quality of life and for enhancing human capabilities. Ensure that health workers, medicines, treatments, UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
Key Human Rights issues from Civil Society Summary of Political Party Manifestos
Botswana General Elections
Key Human Rights issues from Civil Society Summary of Political Party Manifestos
Botswana General Elections
Botswana General Elections 2019 Concern for poor drugmedication supply to patients has increased
preventions, promotion, rehabilitation and palliation of good quality are in place
Maladministration and poor supervision in healthcare services.
Publicly financed
The right to health for migrants has been ignored
The indigenous peoples’ culture and spirit have almost been destroyed. They continue to go through several obstacles as the indigenous communities are being denied use of their culture. The impactful culture and history of indigenous people is
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
MANIFESTOS32 MANIFESTOS 32
being systematically destroyed and its people humiliated. Culture has to be nurtured, held, cherished and maintained as desirable and having importance and relevance for our lives
Responsibility to provide primary healthcare will rest with the District Councils. More hospitals with specialised medical facilities will be built. Cover public health and preventive services; primary care; inpatient and outpatient specialised care; emergency care; inpatient and outpatient prescription drugs; mental healthcare; rehabilitation services; disability support services; patient transport services; home care and longterm care, including nursing home care and hospice care; dental care and optometry for children, young people and maternity care.
Indigenous Peoples
Botswana General Elections 2019
Inculcate the culture of reading amongst all Batswana by increasing the number of libraries. Impart valuable life –skills to children and youth to reflect the cultural standards and ideals of Botswana.
Land
Most of community lands are considered state land and when customary rights are recognized, it is usually just for dwellings and their immediate surroundings. In the process locals lose or have greatly restricted use rights to the land while private wealthy individuals and investors of capital to purchase large swaths of land in order to ‘conserve’ it is unreservedly granted.
Facilitate the formal registration and inclusion of Traditional Heath Practitioners, as key players in healthcare system. Culture will be used to reduce distortion of personal development of citizens and comprise a form and dimension of social advancement. Put together a constellation of cultural values suited for modern business as a critical ingredient for economic development and growth.
A “Botho code of conduct,” that will be an infusion of cultural values that will cultivate the easiest way for every Motswana to practice one’s patriotism.
National Human Rights Institution
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
Implement Community Land Reform for redistribution of land for higher production and improved social and political conditions The Community Land Reform Council will comprise of: women sector, youth sector, disability sector, labor sector, tribal sector, elders' sector, business sector, technical sector. The concept of individual or state ownership of land will be replaced by community ownership and control. Land will be leased by the community to individuals or families but equity in ownership of homes or other improvements will be retained by the individual or family. NOT INCLUDED
NOT INLCUDED
MANIFESTOS33 MANIFESTOS 33
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
Key Human Rights issues from Civil Society Summary of Political Party Manifestos
Botswana General Elections
Poverty Alleviation
There is a large and growing gap between high-income and wealthy households and the majority of Batswana are miserably poor. System of economic growth does not create jobs.
Key Human Rights issues from Civil Society Summary of Political Party Manifestos
Botswana General Elections
Botswana General Elections 2019
Botswana General Elections 2019
Distribute wealth in a more fairly was across all levels of society.
Introduce universal income and unemployment insurance for cash assistance as complimentary benefits which support the unemployed poor, low-income earners, children, elders, disabled and individuals who need it.
Guarantee social and economic rights through the universal basic income for citizens who lack jobs, economic security, good health and the opportunity to further education careers.
Ensure that the wealthiest people and profitable corporations which benefit the most from our political and economic system contribute their fair share: limit corporate welfare, and enact a robust corporate inheritance tax
Expand access to high-quality vocational education, creating pathways to good jobs and full employment. Ensure that workers with disabilities have a fair access to employment and economic security. Reform the criminal justice system to end mass incarceration and overcriminalisation and remove barriers to economic security and mobility for citizens with criminal records. Give children and their parents a simultaneous boost through two- generational policies and investments, including home visiting, support for parental mental health, and support for parents’ career development coupled with high-quality early care and education for children.
Update labour standards, raise the national minimum wage to BWP6500 and index it to wage growth, require fair scheduling for workers, target employeecontractor misclassification and wage theft.
Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression
Adolescents and adults who identify as transgender have high rates of depression, anxiety, eating disorders, selfharm, and suicide.
Expand opportunities for current and future workers by investing in infrastructure for nationally needed jobs.
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
MANIFESTOS34 MANIFESTOS 34
Persons who identify as transgender and gender diverse continue to face numerous health disparities.
Transgender people face discrimination, stigma, and social rejection due to lack of civil rights protection for their gender identity or expression.
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
MANIFESTOS35 MANIFESTOS 35
Increase affordable housing and bolster consumer financial protection rules. A more robust legal framework will be developed to ensure valuing transgender people for who they are. The law will include the following: Social Affirmation - Persons who identify as transgender are supported in their asserted gender. Legal Affirmation - Making changes such as a name and gender marker on legal UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
Key Human Rights issues from Civil Society Summary of Political Party Manifestos
Botswana General Elections
Key Human Rights issues from Civil Society Summary of Political Party Manifestos
Botswana General Elections
Botswana General Elections 2019 documents, such as birth certificates, passport, identification cards, school documents, etc.
Botswana General Elections 2019 Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) Issues Access to Justice
Medical Affirmation - Using cross-sex hormones to allow adolescents who have initiated puberty to develop secondary sex characteristics of the opposite biological sex.
What manifestos say in relation to the issue The UDC wants to build a just and free society. We want citizens to feel safe and secure in their homes, workplaces and everywhere they want to be and to be comfortable that their property is safe. This is a critical condition for development.
Surgical Affirmation Approaches used to feminise or masculinise features.
What the party promises to do on the issues Batswana justice and security- a competent and fair judicial system and effective protection of citizens and their property so that they go about their business and their lives freely. Free oversight and accountability institutions from the executive and resource them adequately. Resource the Botswana police service adequately. Review legislation to strengthen oversight and accountability. Establish an independent prosecution directorate.
Children’s Rights
Citizenship
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
MANIFESTOS36 MANIFESTOS 36
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
The nonrecognition of the special needs of disadvantaged and vulnerable groups such as people with disabilities, children, youth, poor people and women and girls make it difficult to access development services and opportunities.
A UDC government will champion a national renaissance process focusing on
MANIFESTOS37 MANIFESTOS 37
Strengthen legal aid. Ensure free and compulsory quality education for all learners from the pre-school to the secondary school level. Guarantee safe passage from birth to productive adulthood for all children through a life cycle approach to human development. This includes building the capacity of institutions to ensure effective implementation of the Children’s Act and effective monitoring and evaluation thereof. Introduce citizenship education, in schools and through pubic platforms, to empower citizens UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
Key Human Rights issues from Civil Society Summary of Political Party Manifestos
Botswana General Elections
Death Penalty Education
Key Human Rights issues from Civil Society Summary of Political Party Manifestos
Botswana General Elections
Botswana General Elections 2019
Botswana General Elections 2019
citizenship rights and responsibilities. NOT INCLUDED
in order to build a confident and engaged citizenry. NOT INCLUDED
Provide free sanitary pads.
The UDC will affirm access to quality relevant education as a fundamental.
Increase resourcing and financing for education and training.
Establish a Botswana Research Council. Introduce a Teaching Council. Introduce incentives for teachers.
Equip schools. Increase funding for physical and occupation therapy in schools.
Improve the conditions of services of teachers.
Initiate change management for the entire public education system.
Provide avenues for education and re-skilling of unemployed youths.
Review and overhaul school curricula.
Improve youth SMMEs access to business opportunities and linkages with large firms. NOT INCLUDED Enact a Freedom of Information law and review relevant Acts to guarantee the free flow of information and a dynamic and independent media, turn the state broadcaster into a public broadcaster with an independent board accountable to Parliament, and make it easier for community-based radio stations and newspapers to be established.
Introduce state of the art technology in schools. Introduce a system-wide continuous professional and leadership development programme to equip the system to deliver.
Environment Freedom of and Access to Information
Radio Botswana, Botswana Television and the Government social media platforms are intensely partisan.
Decentralise the management of schools to districts and schools. Equip teachers and schools with adequate capacity to enable them to identify and meet the diverse needs of learners.
Access to information is generally constrained. Gender
Reduce the teacher-learner ratio to a maximum of 1:25. Increase system capacity to adequately meet the needs of children with special needs.
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
MANIFESTOS38 MANIFESTOS 38
NOT INCLUDED Press freedom is compromised by regulation, especially a Medis Practitioner’s Act that should have no place in a democracy.
Sadly, Botswana’s democracy is flawed. It fails to protect the weakest members of society, and the marginalised and vulnerable groups.
Enact legislation to accord more protection for whistle-blowers. Integrate human rights into development processes, including issues of ethnic minorities, gender, youth, and marginalised groups. Develop and implement affirmative action policies,
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
MANIFESTOS39 MANIFESTOS 39
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
Key Human Rights issues from Civil Society Summary of Political Party Manifestos
Botswana General Elections
There generally is a lack of understanding of the nexus of human rights and development.
Governance
Consequently, human rights are not enforceable and the government cannot be held accountable for the egregious failures such as those in education and health, and their long term social and economic cost notwithstanding. The biggest threat to Botswana’s development today is not lack of resources. Our crises of development arise from a crisis of leadership and governance. Oversight and accountability institutions are too weak to provide effective oversight and enforce accountability.
Key Human Rights issues from Civil Society Summary of Political Party Manifestos
Botswana General Elections 2019
Botswana General Elections 2019
measures and actions to ensure equal representation and participation of marginalised groups in decision making and the benefits of development.
Review the constitution to ensure effective separation of powers between the three arms of government and empower parliament and the judiciary. In particular, both Parliament and the Judiciary will have their own budgets, independent of the Executive. Review the Local Government Act to establish Local Authorities as an empowered second tier of government.
Review the country’s constitution.
Use special nomination to empower under-represented constituencies.
Include a bill of rights that guarantees citizens first and second-generation human rights. Provide for independent oversight and accountability institutions.
Health Care
Review the powers of the Presidency.
Provide for the enhanced inclusion of women, youth and disadvantaged groups in representative leadership.
Mental heal challenges are on the rise, as is disability.
Introduce citizenship education.
The health systems experiences high rates of staff turnover.
Institutionalise merit- introduce a competitive and merit-based system of appointing people to positions of responsibility.
The Maternal Mortality rate is 193 per 100.000 live births. Botswana is one of only a few countries in Africa that have not reduced the incidence of new HIV infections.
Introduce legislation on Declaration of Assets and Liabilities and Insider Trading.
POLITICAL PARTY
MANIFESTOS40 MANIFESTOS 40
All citizens should have access to quality health services they need without risk of financial ruin or impoverishment. The public health system is struggling with shortages of personnel, drugs and equipment.
Review the electoral system.
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP
Botswana General Elections
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
MANIFESTOS41 MANIFESTOS 41
Establish a House of Representatives Develop a comprehensive national health policy to move Botswana towards Universal Health Coverage. Employ more health professionals to achieve staffing ratios that are consistent with the provision of quality health care. A UDC government will increase the number of nurses and midwives by absorbing trained health workers that are currently unemployed. Delink the health professions from the general civil service and develop and implement a retention strategy for nurses, doctors and other care givers. This will entail improvement of the working conditions and reward system health professionals. UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
Key Human Rights issues from Civil Society Summary of Political Party Manifestos
Botswana General Elections
Key Human Rights issues from Civil Society Summary of Political Party Manifestos
Botswana General Elections
Botswana General Elections 2019
Upgrade health infrastructure across the country and improve logistic to ensure that health facilities have adequate supplies of drugs and materials. Reduce malnutrition among children under the age of 5 by supplying free supplementary and therapeutic food for children and improve the quality of food for primary school children.
Botswana General Elections 2019
Indigenous Peoples
Land National Human Rights Institution Poverty Alleviation
Establish rehabilitation centres to address the problem of the addiction and drug abuse in Botswana. Establish information and research system for health intervention and encourage the establishment of communitybased gyms to promote physical activity and prevent noncommunicable diseases. Revitalise the national response to HIV and improve access to quality treatment, care and support service for patients, prevent new HIV infections through provision of condoms and public education, information and communication, and effectively coordinate of partner support in the health sector.
Adopt the use of other indigenous languages (mother tongue) in schools at lower primary level. NOT INCLUDED NOT INCLUDED
NOT INLCUDED NOT INCLUDED Instead of freedom from poverty for all, 16.3% of Batswana, 337.000 people in total, love below the official poverty line. In fact, “.....half of Botswana’s population remains either poor or vulnerable to poverty , with 46% of the children under 15” (Botswana Poverty Assessment , World Bank. 2015). Much like poverty unemployment is an emergency. Both are structural. They cannot be resolved without addressing their structural determinants. The UDC’s approach to jobs and poverty eradication aims for deep and broad economic transformation.
Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression
NOT INCLUDED
Adopt full employment and a high wage economy as key macroeconomic objectives. Adopt a living wage of P3000/month and an old age pension of 1500/month. Pursue macroeconomic stability. Employ and manage human resources for efficiency in the public sector. Promote workers’ rights, industrial relations and national social dialogue. Uphold social protection and social security. Modernise labour market and dispute resolution NOT INCLUDED
Provide Pre and Post Exposure Prophylaxis medication in all public health facilities.
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
MANIFESTOS42 MANIFESTOS 42
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
MANIFESTOS43 MANIFESTOS 43
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
Key Human Rights issues from Civil Society Summary of Political Party Manifestos
Botswana General Elections
Key Human Rights issues from Civil Society Summary of Political Party Manifestos
Botswana General Elections
Botswana General Elections 2019
Botswana General Elections 2019
CONCLUSION
List of UPR NGO Working Group Members
We note that one of the key CSO human rights issues which was not addressed by any political party manifesto in the 2014 General Elections (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIEE)), has been addressed by The Real Alternative Party in 2019. The other key CSO issue which was not addressed in 2014 was that of Refugees and Asylum Seekers. This was not a key issue in the 2018 UPR Stakeholder (CSO) Report. In 2014, the manifestos of the Botswana Democratic Party and the Botswana Congress Party both addressed Access to Justice; Children; Freedom of and Access to Information; Gender; Governance and Land. For the 2019 General Elections, the Botswana Democratic Party and UDC (which includes the Botswana Congress Party) address all of these issues, to the exclusion of land by the UDC. It is noteworthy that in 2014, indigenous peoples was only addressed by the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) manifesto. In 2019, the manifestos of the Botswana Democratic Party, the UDC and the Real Alternative Party, all address indigenous peoples. None of the 2019 manifestos address death penalty. It is hoped that following the 2019 General Elections, the fifteen key human rights issues identified by CSO consultations during 2016/2017 and presented to the UN Human Rights Council in January 2018 (as part of the CHRSNAP process), will be addressed through awareness-raising and human rights education for all.
Botswana Council of Non-Governmental Organisations Private Bag 00418, Gaborone. Tel: (+267) 3911319 Fax: (+267) 3912935 Fax: (+267) 3912935 www.bocongo.org https://www.facebook.com/bocongo/ DITSHWANELO- The Botswana Centre for Human Rights Private Bag 00416, Gaborone. Tel: (+267) 3906998 Fax: (+267) 3907778 Cell: (+267) 71729826 71309468 https://www.facebook.com/ditshwanelobotswana/ Twitter:@DitshwaneloBCHR
Kuru Family of Organisations P.O.Box 934, Gantsi. Tel: (+267) 6596285 Fax: (+267) 6596040 www.kuruhealth.org.bw https://www.facebook.com/KuruHealth/ LeGaBiBo LEGABIBO P.O Box 402958, Gaborone. CONTACTS POSTAL ADDRESS Telephone: +2673167425 . P . O Box 550430 Facsimile: +2673167465 Tel: (+267) 3167425 Mogoditshane Email: legabibo@legabibo.org Fax: (+267) 3932517 Botswana Website: www.legabibo.org www.legabibo.org https://www.facebook.com/legabibo/ MISA Botswana Private Bag BO 86, Gaborone.
SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: LEGABIBO Facebook: Botswana Against Homophobia and Transphobia Twitter: @legabiboadvo Instagram: LEGABIBO YouTube: LEGABIBO Botswana SoundCloud: LEGABIBO
Tel: (+267) 3971972/ 3974866 Fax: (+267) 3161196 https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Organization/MISA-Botswana-345553875021/ Rainbow Identity Association P.O.Box 502328, Gaborone. Tel: (+267) 3905493 www.riabotswana.org https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rainbow-Identity-Association/166699850424716
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
MANIFESTOS44 MANIFESTOS 44
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
MANIFESTOS45 MANIFESTOS 45
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
Key Human Rights issues from Civil Society Summary of Political Party Manifestos
Botswana General Elections
Key Human Rights issues from Civil Society Summary of Political Party Manifestos
Botswana General Elections
TE OF SOUTH TU E TI
IN S
RICA AF
MEDIA
RN
MISA
BOTSWANA P ROMOTING MEDIA DIVERSITY P LURALISM S ELF-SUFFICIENCY INDEPENDENCE
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
MANIFESTOS 46
UPR-NGO-WORKING GROUP POLITICAL PARTY
MANIFESTOS 47