By A Correspondent
Yesterday, hundreds of members of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), Botswana’s opposition coalition, demonstrated outside the Zimbabwean embassy in Gaborone against what they say is Zimbabwe’s meddling in the country’s internal elections.
UDC members are calling on Zimbabwe to “stay out” of Botswana’s political affairs amidst the country’s October 30 general elections.
The demonstrators, under the leadership of UDC President Advocate Duma Gideon Boko, expressed worries about alleged outside influence that they think might sway the upcoming election. Prominent UDC leaders gave speeches during the protest, and Dr. Phenyo Butale, a senior party member, read a petition to embassy representatives aloud.
“The people of Botswana are capable of managing their own democratic processes,” Dr. Butale declared. “We implore our neighbours to uphold Botswana’s sovereignty and permit our citizens to cast ballots free from outside interference.”
The demonstration comes after recent allegations that Zimbabwean officials might be influencing Botswana’s election results covertly from the UDC and other political circles in Botswana. The UDC has raised concerns that such actions could compromise the electoral process’s fairness and transparency, even though no concrete evidence has been made public.
Advocate Boko, who has been a vocal critic of what he perceives as external pressure, emphasized the importance of upholding Botswana’s independence. “Botswana has a proud history of peaceful democratic elections, and we will not tolerate any attempts to compromise this legacy,” Boko stated.
In response, a representative from Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement denying any involvement in Botswana’s electoral process. “Zimbabwe respects Botswana’s sovereignty and remains committed to non-interference in the internal matters of our neighbours,” the spokesperson said, adding that Zimbabwe views Botswana as a “valued partner” within the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
The spokesperson further called for calm, encouraging all political players in Botswana to work within their democratic institutions to address any issues.
The allegations have garnered attention from both regional and international observers, with several SADC leaders urging restraint from all sides. SADC officials have expressed readiness to send observers to Botswana’s elections, aiming to uphold fairness and transparency in a region known for stability and democratic governance.
Experts suggest that any substantiated interference claims could strain diplomatic relations between the two countries, affecting both political alliances and economic partnerships within the SADC bloc.
Within Botswana, the protest has ignited a broader conversation about electoral integrity. Many citizens, already deeply engaged in this election season, have expressed their support for a fair and transparent process free from outside influence. Local activists and political analysts have pointed out that the public demonstrations reveal a heightened sense of ownership among Batswana regarding their democratic rights.
As Botswana heads toward the October 30 polls, both Botswana and Zimbabwe are under scrutiny, with hopes that any remaining tensions will be resolved diplomatically. The UDC has pledged to continue its advocacy for a fair election while calling for vigilance among its supporters to safeguard Botswana’s democratic values.