Political Party funding headache

Political party funding remains a hot potato for the ruling Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) as it has been the case with their predecessors in government, the opposition Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), analysts have observed. Answering a question in Parliament on Friday, Minister for State President, Moeti Mohwasa said the new UDC government’s aim is to fund political parties as per the commitment in the past administration. Although he could not share exact time frames, Mohwasa said further logistics will be determined by the availability of funds as will be advised by the Minister of Finance Ndaba Gaolathe. 

Political analyst, Kitso Morekisi said the UDC government is facing a lot of challenges to implement pertinent issues such as political party funding which now comes at a time when coffers are dry. 

He said the opposition, particularly Botswana Congress Party (BCP) will be breathing down the UDC neck to ensure that they implement some of important matters and failure to do so will present the UDC as failed government to the people. 

“Political party funding is a new concept within our political grounds and it was one of the best moves by the former ruling BDP. 

Mohwasa made it clear that the government cannot commit to the timing of the financial disbursement to political parties and specific amounts that each party will get as well,” he said. 

In addition, Morekisi said chances are high that UDC can drag its feet to implement funding on the basis that it could give the opposition a financial power as the BDP in the past delayed to introduce political funding. 

Botswana Congress Party (BCP) MP for Maun East constituency, Goretse Kekgonegile had asked the minister to brief the house on preparations made to fulfil the government’s obligations to the political party funding. 

He also asked if the ministry subscribes to paying immediately after election and if so, the ministry should provide timelines. 

Doubtful 

In an interview on Friday, Kekgonegile said it is unfortunate that the government doesn’t have a definite answer on whether they will pay party funding or not. 

He said to BCP, that UDC is now in power it doesn’t seem to treat the issue as priority a they did before the elections, adding that of course BDP was under pressure to pass the bill before elections both for political mileage and in anticipation that they will get the lion’s share as they thought they will win elections. 

“UDC must therefore must come to the party and pay as a budged and formula are available. 

Parties are broke from elections and are likely to close shop which will be bad for our democracy given importance of political oversight in a democratic dispensation,” said Kekgonegile. Mohwasa said as per the Act of political party funding the Secretary shall disburse the first instalment of the moneys immediately after the general elections; and thereafter at the beginning of each financial year. 

“As per the Political Party Funding Act No.13 of 2024, monies paid to qualifying political parties in terms of this Act shall be monies appropriated by the National Assembly for the purpose of funding political parties,” said Mohwasa. 

He also said government cannot commit to the timing of the financial disbursement to political parties and to specific amounts that will be given to each party at this juncture because a request for the release of funds has been submitted to the ministry of finance and is being processed in accordance with the provisions of the Act as well as how much the government can presently afford. 

APC 

Meanwhile, Mohwasa said his ministry has scheduled an All-Party Conference (APC) meeting on the 5 December 2024 with the primary aim among other things, to provide feedback on the political party funding model as provided for in the political party funding Act No.13 of 2024. He said the APC will provide input and feedback on the proposed model as per the Act. 

Presidential Commission Inquiry into the Review of Constitution recommended that political party funding be introduced based on parliamentary seats won by parties in the immediate past general election at the rate of not less than P50,000 or such amount as may be determined by Parliament from time to time per MP. The commission also recommended that political parties, which received public funding should account for the use of such funds to the Office of the Auditor General following general elections