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ELK ASIA PACIFIC JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCE ISSN 2394-9392 (Online); DOI: 10.16962/EAPJSS/ISSN 2454-2997/2015; Volume 6 Issue 1 (2019) ON THE SIDELINES OF DEMOCRACY: PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AND ELECTIONS IN BOTSWANA KEKGAODITSE SUPING Department of Political and Administrative Studies University of Botswana Gaborone, Botswana [email protected] ABSTRACT Botswana is one of the much celebrated democracies in Africa. The country holds regular elections every five (5) years since independence from Britain in 1966. Election observers have declared Botswana elections free and fair throughout the country’s electoral history despite the lack of representation and participation of some eligible groups of people such as persons with disabilities (PWDs). PWDs have registered the desire to realise their right to political participation, especially in elections, and no legislative or policy reforms have been effected in their favour. Furthermore, Botswana has ratified neither the United Nations Convention of 2006 on the Rights of People with Disabilities (CRPD) nor the 2007 African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, both of which aim to promote, protect and provide access to PWDs’ right to political participation. Against this background, the article argues that; first, Botswana’s credentials as one of the most democratic states in Africa is flawed and exaggerated without the inclusion of PWDs in the electoral process. Second, the marginalization of PWDs from elections is entrenched in Botswana’s political culture of exclusion; third, the repeated declaration of Botswana elections as free and fair over the past fifty three (53) years, including the October 23, 2019 general elections, has legitimized the exclusion of PWDs. Fourth, PWDs in Botswana are victims of exploitation and ridicule by political parties, politicians and the government. Lastly, the article argues that there is lack of political will in Botswana to effect meaningful reforms to the realization of PWDs right to political participation through elections. Key words: Botswana, persons with disability, political participation, elections and democracy. Introduction Elections in Botswana have been a regular women and youth representation (Bauer phenomena every five (5) years since 2010, Bauer 2011; Maundeni & Suping 1965. Botswana elections are characterized 2013), political party leaders (Makgala by competition of various political parties 2005; ), political party coalitions and for political power, and have been hailed factions (Maundeni 2012; Lotshwao & as free and fair since the first general Suping 2013; Maundeni & Seabo 2013) elections. There is a lot of literature on and electoral reforms (Molomo 2004; Botswana elections focusing on various Maundeni 2007; Mpabanga & Mokhawa topics such as: political party contestations 2013). Furthermore, political parties have (Sebudubudu & Osei-Hwedie 2006; also produced manifestos to lobby various Burchard 2013; Seabo & Masilo 2018); groups of people to vote for them. Until elections (Danevad 1995; Charlton 1993); the 2014 general elections, political 19 ELK ASIA PACIFIC JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCE ISSN 2394-9392 (Online); DOI: 10.16962/EAPJSS/ISSN 2454-2997/2015; Volume 6 Issue 1 (2019) parties’ manifestos made no mention of PWDs as a constituency. Various literature This article raises the following has been documented on the: rights arguments: first, Botswana’s credentials as (Dinokopila & Mmatli 2013; one of the most democratic states in Africa Mukhophadhyay & Moswela 2016; is flawed and exaggerated without explicit Pfumorodze & Fombad 2011); statistics inclusion of PWDs in the electoral process. (Mukamaambo et al 2003; Mmatli et al Second, marginalization of PWDs from the 2014); education, health and employment elections is entrenched in Botswana’s (WHO 1980; WHO 200; Dinokopila & political culture of excluding minorities; Mmatli 2013; Moswela & third, the repeated declaration of Botswana Mukhophadhyay 2011; Mpuang et al elections as free and fair over the past fifty 2015; Parsons et al 2015; Shumba & Abosi three (53) years has legitimized the 2011; Shumba & Taukobong 2009), exclusion of PWDs. Fourth, PWDs in exclusion (Ghai 2001a; Mmatli 2007), and Botswana are victims of exploitation and political participation (Suping & Moswela ridicule by political parties, as politicians 2017) of PWDs in Botswana. However, and the government often campaign for the available literature does not give elections in the name of PWDs, but ignore attention to participation and them once elected. Lastly, the article representation, or lack thereof, of PWDs in argues that there is lack of political will in Botswana elections and the impact of that Botswana to effect meaningful reforms on the development of democracy in that can ensure the realization of PWDs Botswana. right to political participation through elections. Drawing from the participatory democratic theory, the paper argues that Botswana’s This article is divided into five (5) democracy is merely theoretical as it sections. The first section discusses PWDs excludes some eligible participants such as and the right to political participation; PWDs from political decision-making. second section deals with PWDs, elections Pateman (1970), making a case for and representation in Botswana; third participatory democracy, argued that section evaluates the right of PWDs to “active participation enables citizens to secret ballot and access to voting; the self-develop, as well as engendering fourth section examines the Botswana’s positive psychological benefits including Independent Electoral Commission and feelings of political efficacy” (Pateman PWDs; the last section assesses 1970:104-105). However, Botswana’s declarations of Botswana elections as free elections have neglected participation of and fair and the electoral reforms. The PWDs and limited itself to empty political article relies on secondary sources of data. rhetoric, through consultations and policy An interpretive analysis of sources was pronouncements on PWDs, all of which employed to allow thick description and have nothing on political participation of the use of narrative form to invite the PWDs or ever get implemented. voices of those involved and to give Participation and representation of PWDs meaning to their experiences, in Botswana elections remains elusive. circumstances and preferences. 20 ELK ASIA PACIFIC JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCE ISSN 2394-9392 (Online); DOI: 10.16962/EAPJSS/ISSN 2454-2997/2015; Volume 6 Issue 1 (2019) appropriate; guaranteeing the free expression of the will of persons with Persons with Disabilities and the Right disabilities as voters and to this end, to Political Participation where necessary, at their request, allowing The right to vote and to be voted as an assistance in voting by a person of their election candidate is an important feature own choice; participation in non- of democracy. Any state that claims to be governmental organizations and democratic ought to protect, promote and associations concerned with the public and provide access to citizens’ right to vote political life of the country, and in the and to be voted. PWDs, like any section of activities and administration of political the population in a state, have the right to parties.” (CRPD 2006:21) participate in elections and politics in general. Various protocols and treaties Furthermore, in Africa, the African have been established at the international Charter on Human and People’s Rights level to protect and promote the right of (ACHPR) and the African Charter on PWDs to political participation. These Democracy, Elections and Governance treaties include, amongst others, the (commonly referred to as the Democracy United Nations Convention on the Rights Charter), calls on African states to promote of People with Disabilities (CRPD), participation of PWDs in the governance International Covenant on Civil and process, and that includes elections Political Rights (ICCPR). Collectively, the (Democracy Charter, Article 31). The afore-mentioned treaties seek to protect the Protocol to the ACHPR on the Rights of rights of PWDs to political participation in PWDs in Africa was introduced by the general, and elections in particular. Article African Commission on Human and 29 of the CRPD on Political Participation People’s Rights in 2014, but only got and Public Life explicitly calls on state adopted in January 2018 and is yet to be parties to guarantee PWDs their political ratified by many African countries. rights and give them equal opportunity with others. Specifically, the Within the framework of both the CRPD aforementioned Article 29 provides that and Democracy Charter, some African states must guarantee the political rights of states made some reforms to their legal PWDs by: and electoral systems to include PWDs. “ensuring that voting procedures, facilities For instance, Ethiopia, Niger and Ghana and materials are appropriate, accessible introduced some measures that promote and easy to understand and use; participation of PWDs in elections, such as protecting the right of persons with the use of sign language interpreters, disabilities to vote by secret ballot in putting elections materials in braille elections and public referendums without format, making polling stations and intimidation, and to stand for elections, to polling booths accessible to PWDs effectively hold office and perform all (Suping and Moswela 2017). On the other public functions at all levels of hand, most African states have entrenched