From Kgotla to Clicks: How Social Media Changed Politics in Botswana

The landscape of politics in Botswana, often hailed as one of Africa’s most stable democracies, is a testament to the complexities of governance, strategy, and political survival (Harter, 1997). Over the years, Botswana’s political environment has evolved through multiple phases, with political parties and leaders adapting their strategies to navigate the challenges of democracy, economic change, and social expectations. This article explores the key political strategies employed by politicians in Botswana, critically analyzes these methods, and offers recommendations for the future, informed by both historical and contemporary developments within the country.

Grassroots Mobilization: A Double-Edged Sword

A hallmark of political strategy in Botswana is grassroots mobilization, a method that politicians have used effectively for decades to secure votes, especially in rural areas. Historically, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), which has governed the country for 58 years, has been successful in employing this strategy, using traditional institutions such as the Kgotla (community meetings) to connect with the masses. Through these meetings, political leaders are able to maintain their relevance in remote communities and gain direct feedback on the issues affecting the electorate. The Kgotla system approach was used by the BDP as a political strategy, indirectly through the influence they had over government. We saw this in the previous government of former President Masisi as he launched the BDP’s manifesto indirectly at the Kgotlas and sometimes justified his political conflicts with former President Ian Khama to the public.

However, as the nation urbanizes and more young people migrate to cities in search of better economic opportunities, this form of political engagement is becoming less effective in some urban areas. The youth, who make up a substantial portion of the electorate, are less likely to be swayed by traditional forms of engagement, preferring more dynamic, digital forms of political communication. While politicians still attempt to leverage grassroots tactics, there is a growing disconnect between traditional methods and the changing dynamics of voter preferences.

Analysis of Grassroots Politics in Contemporary Botswana

One recent development that highlights this shift is the 2024 General Elections, where the opposition, particularly the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), succeeded in gaining ground in urban areas, largely due to their appeal to younger voters. The youth vote, which has often been neglected, became a pivotal factor in the election’s outcome. The opposition’s ability to use social media, online platforms, and youth-targeted policies helped them make significant strides in urban constituencies, signaling a growing gap in traditional methods of political engagement.

Strategic Alliances: Necessary but Fragile

Political alliances have also become a key component of Botswana’s political strategies, particularly in the context of multiparty democracy. In recent years, the UDC coalition has emerged as a formidable force, uniting smaller opposition parties in an attempt to challenge the BDP’s dominance. The UDC was founded in November 2012 by members from various opposition parties, including the BPP and BMD. They rallied together in the run-up to the 2014 elections by the Botswana National Front (BNF), the Botswana Movement for Democracy, and the Botswana People’s Party with the aim of uniting the opposition in the 2014 elections. In February 2017, the Botswana Congress Party, which contested the 2014 elections independently, joined the coalition and left toward the 2024 elections. The UDC coalition’s formation was largely seen as a direct response to the perceived weaknesses of the then single-party dominance of the BDP and the growing dissatisfaction with the government’s policies. However, the fragility of these alliances often becomes evident when disagreements arise over leadership or policy priorities. As we saw, the BCP leader Dumelang Shaleshando left the coalition, and AP leader Ndaba Gaolathe once left the coalition toward the 2019 general elections, weakening the UDC and causing them to lose the greater Gaborone constituencies to the BDP. It is evident that the weak and undefined processes within the UDC are the root cause of these coalition breaks. Mmegi Staffer Mompati Tlhakane retraces UDC’s timeline of self-destruction post-2019 elections, reporting on the Shaleshando and Kekgonegile scandal, terming it a self-harm and automatic disintegration of the UDC, as reported on Friday, September 16, 2022.

The Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF), another opposition party, attempted to form alliances with the UDC, but internal divisions led to its separation. This fracturing of opposition unity has undermined efforts to mount a serious challenge to the BDP. In addition, the formation of these coalitions has often been seen as opportunistic rather than based on shared ideological or policy goals, leaving the alliances vulnerable to collapse. This was evident before the 2024 elections when the BPF did not join the UDC because of disagreements on constituency allocations. Can we conclude that the UDC alliance was formed with an eye on positions by certain individuals? Some alliances, which we once saw, were based on political hate, especially during the council elections, to vote out executive administration, e.g., council chairpersons. In 2022, we saw the BDP and BCP members of council voting together to disempower the UDC because of the animosity Shaleshando had toward Duma Boko, especially after he left the UDC and his Leader of Opposition position was taken away from him. On Monday, December 18, 2023, Mmegi reported that “Kehitile, the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) councilor for Dukwi village, and Masole, the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) Marobela councilor, faced an unusual alliance as members of the opposition Botswana Congress Party (BCP) and the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) jointly supported the motion for their removal.”

The political rivals voted in support of the motion to expel Kehitile and Masole from office. The collaboration between the traditionally opposing BCP and BDP highlights the growing discord within the opposition bloc, not only in Tutume but throughout the country. Since the BCP announced its departure from the UDC, signaling an irreparable rift, tensions between the former allies have persisted.

Media Influence: Shaping Public Opinion

Botswana’s political leaders have long understood the power of the media in shaping public opinion. In a country where state-controlled media still plays a major role in informing the public, politicians have often used the media to their advantage, especially those in the ruling party. The Botswana Television (BTV) and Botswana Radio have been instrumental in broadcasting government achievements, while political leaders frequently appear in the press to frame narratives and offer responses to public concerns. During such broadcasts, it can be noted that the presenters asked already framed questions and avoided a lot of follow-up questions, so that the politicians on public platforms are protected. In the past regimes, opposition leaders were not broadcasted a lot on these national broadcasting platforms, and there were allegations circulating that former President Masisi instructed BTV not to broadcast his political rival, former President Ian Khama. The use of national broadcasting systems is still biased in Botswana and is used wrongly for political reach, leaving no room for the public to criticize the ruling government.

In recent years, however, the rise of social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram has redefined political communication. Politicians now find themselves needing to balance traditional media with these digital spaces, where younger generations are increasingly engaging with political discourse. One could say Facebook was instrumental in the UDC’s success, as the opposition party had a platform to communicate to the nation at large. Through the rise of social media, opposition parties began to share their views on government policies and spread propaganda, shaping Botswana’s politics and also increasing interaction with the youth. In the last elections, we even saw the BDP introducing social media strategies such as “Domi Babies” in order to seek the attention of the youth as a way of rebranding the party for the younger generation.

Analyzing the Impact of Social Media on Botswana’s Political Communication

In 2023, former President Mokgweetsi Masisi leveraged social media as part of his political campaign, engaging directly with citizens, showcasing his government’s progress, and responding to criticisms in real-time. However, this has led to new challenges in managing public perception, with opponents and critics using the same platforms to challenge government actions and expose corruption. The 2019 Water Utilities scandal involving the former president’s alleged financial mismanagement highlighted how social media could be used to mobilize opposition and hold leaders accountable. This incident also pointed to the growing role of digital platforms in Botswana’s democratic process, where political leaders can no longer rely solely on traditional media to control the narrative.

For Botswana’s politicians, the challenge is twofold: not only must they adapt to the changing communication landscape, but they must also maintain integrity in a space where misinformation and political manipulation are rampant.

Recommendations for Future Political Strategies

Strengthen Youth Engagement

Given the increasing youth participation in politics, it is imperative for political parties to invest in platforms that engage young people, such as digital campaigns, youth forums, and public policy debates. Political strategies must evolve to prioritize youth-focused policies and direct involvement in decision-making. This is particularly important as young voters are becoming more disillusioned with traditional political processes that do not address their specific needs. Organizations such as the Moono Wa Baithuti, GS 26, UB-BCP, and the Student Patriotic Front (SPF) should be empowered financially and given a clear mandate to execute youth agendas that align with their parties’ political ideologies. While dealing with these youth organizations, it is important to teach them the political ideologies of the mother parties and, as a nation, deviate from the traditional politics of voting individuals based on ethnicity or societal status, rather than their beliefs or the movement they represent. Teaching political ideology will help eliminate tribal politics, such as those promoted by BPF patron Khama and also seen in the Ngamiland district, where people vote for leaders based on their tribes.

Building Unity in the Opposition

For a viable democratic challenge to the UDC, Botswana’s opposition must focus on building ideologically cohesive coalitions. These coalitions should not just be reactionary but must work together to present a clear, united vision for the country’s future. Internal cohesion is critical if opposition parties are to pose a real challenge to the ruling party’s dominance.

Leveraging Digital Tools for Political Transparency

Politicians must not only use digital platforms to communicate but should also use them to enhance transparency. For example, continuing live-streaming parliamentary debates, holding online town halls, and responding to public queries can create a more open, accountable political system.

Addressing Patronage Politics

Botswana must move away from patronage politics that reward loyalty at the expense of merit and national progress. A strong commitment to anti-corruption reforms, fair employment practices, and transparent public service appointments will ensure that the government remains accountable to all citizens and not just those with political connections.

Introduction of Revolutionary Politics

It is time to introduce robust political approaches in Botswana to hold the government accountable, similar to South Africa, where we are seeing one of Africa’s most robust revolutionary movements, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), holding the African National Congress (ANC) accountable. Revolutionary politics promotes unity and patriotism through its songs, which reflect the nation’s struggles and shared vision. We now need political movements that will not remain silent when the ruling party is not delivering on its promises to its citizens. Radical approaches, such as organizing public sector strikes, should be implemented as a way of forcing the government to deliver its promises, and these should be led by opposition leaders.

Perennial Campaigns

Botswana’s political parties should start perennial campaigns, which are campaigns done throughout the year, not only during the election period. One setback to the growth of Botswana’s political parties is the fact that they campaign only during election periods. This has led to some parties not achieving significant growth or dominance. Political parties, such as the BMD, should begin campaigns now to teach the nation about their political ideology and their plans for the Batswana.

International Political Alliances

Establishing political alliances with other political movements outside the country is crucial for international support, help in political strategizing, and having allies for support, especially during times of political instability. Such partners could help raise awareness on the international stage and provide material support during difficult periods.

Political Funding

The introduction of political funding would be a great milestone for Botswana’s politics, as it would give opposition parties a chance to spread across the country. With the proper funding, parties would have resources to push their political ideologies and enhance the country’s checks and balances. Funding should be based on the total number of votes a party receives in the general elections, not just the number of parliamentary seats. This way, parties that do not have representatives in parliament would still receive funds to promote their ideologies.

The Road Forward in Botswana’s Political Evolution

Botswana’s political strategies are continually evolving in response to the changing dynamics of society, the economy, and the global political landscape. While traditional methods such as grassroots mobilization and patronage politics have served the country well, it is clear that the future of Botswana’s democracy lies in embracing youth engagement, coalition-building, and modern communication strategies. For the country to fully realize its democratic potential, political leaders and parties must continue to adapt to the needs of a growing, diverse electorate while remaining committed to justice, accountability, and good governance. As Botswana moves forward, its political strategies will be critical in ensuring that the country remains a beacon of stability and prosperity in Southern Africa.