Ephraim Keoreng
8 July 2009
The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) has said that President Ian Khama will not honour an invitation from Botswana National Youth Council (BNYC) to a face-to-face debate with opposition leaders. The public debate centres on party policies.
The BNYC has been conducting a series of debates in different constituencies where parliamentary candidates from the ruling BDP and those from opposition faced each other in public fora. Last Tuesday, Mmegi learnt that the BNYC was extending the exercise to party leaders so that they can "debate amongst each other, with the aid of a moderator on what their parties promise to do if voted into power. The theme is targeted at the youth and is entitled 'My vote, my representation, my future' and it is aimed at empowering the youth and getting them to go and vote," said Tebape Gucha, BNYC capacity building manager.
Despite the explanation that it is a youth empowerment project, BDP spokesperson, Dr Batlang Serema said the undertaking is too political. He said BNYC is usurping the role of radio stations and Botswana television by going around the country and dragging politicians to debates and in some cases embarrassing some through bad scheduling.
"This project is not good at all because they de-campaign some of our candidates. They would schedule for a debate to take place at times that are inconvenient to the candidates. They should know that some of our people like Oreeditse Molebatsi, who is also an assistant minister are very busy and need to be told well in time so they can avail time for the debates. What they did in Tswapong South when they made it look like he (Molebatsi) was afraid of handling a debate was not fair at all. They actually showed that they are biased towards Botswana Congress Party (BCP)," Serema said.
He stated that there was no way Khama will partake in the BNYC debates, saying that the youth-oriented organisation should confine itself to its core business of empowering young people.
However, Botswana National Front (BNF) spokesperson, Moeti Mowhasa said they would welcome any opportunity to share with audiences party policies and manifesto. He said that it is a pity that the BDP has decided to boycott the debate, which is scheduled to take place a week before the election day. He said the debate could have given Khama a rare opportunity to voice in public his leadership ideas and what he intends to do to better the lot of Batswana. "The youth should know who to vote for and base their decisions on the strength of the policies espoused by party leaders," he said.
BCP secretary general Taolo Lucas said that the BNYC invitation is welcome as it would give their leader an opportunity to share with the electorate what the party intends to do once elected to power.
BNYC director, Anthony Morima has refuted Serema's assertion that the youth organisation is operating outside its mandate by organising political debates. Morima said it is BNYC's mandate to create dialogue around social issues like politics. He asserted that politics affect both the youth and the general public. He said that in constituencies, there are various age groups including the youth. "We intend to help empower the youth to appreciate democratic processes and also to quiz their leaders on what they promise to do to develop their lives. In Tswapong South, we did not take sides with any party.
What happened is that Molebatsi, who had indicated that he would turn up, told us two days before the debate that he would be held up in a Kgotla meeting. Other candidates were ready and we therefore could not postpone it. Before the debate, we announced that Molebatsi would not make it as he was held up by other national duties. But when other candidates took the podium, they attacked him. I remember BCP's Dr Kesitegile Gobotswang telling the audience that 'your leader (Molebatsi) does not care about you'.
There was nothing that we could do as BNYC to stop him. Besides that is how they talk in politics. It is unfortunate that this incident should be used to call us biased against the BDP," he said. Morima maintained that they would host the presidential debate even if Khama does not honour the invitation. "We cannot cancel a debate just because one individual cannot not come. If we did so, then we would indeed be biased," he said.
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