POLITICS
Botswana gained its independence the 30th September in 1966. After the first general elections, Seretse Kama, the leader in the independence movement, was elected as the first president, he was re-elected twice.
In 1980 the presidency passed to the sitting vice president, Ketumile Masire who won the elections in his own right in 1984 and was re-elected in 1989 and 1994.
In November 1997 at the age of 73 President Sir Ketumile Masire announced he would retire as head of state on 31st March 1998.
On 1st April Festus Mogae, who had served as vice-president since 1992, was sworn in as president. He also became leaders of the BDP (The Botswana Democratic Party) The only new member of Mogae's first cabinet was Lt-Gen Iankhama (son of former President Sir Seretse Khama) who retired as commander of the Botswana Defence Force to take up the key post of Minister of Presidential Affairs and Public Administration and was appointed vice-president in July 1998, and was elected as chairman of the BDP in July 2003.
The Major political parties in Botswana are: the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP); Botswana National Front (BNF); Botswana People's Party (BPP); Botswana Freedom Party (BFP) and the United Action Party (UAP)
Although the Botswana Democratic Party has easily won every election since multiparty democracy was established in 1965, in the general election of 1994 the main opposition party, The Botswana National Front won 13 seats (37% of the votes) as against the BDP's 27 seats (54%) with the smaller parties failing to win any seat.
In the October 1999 general election, the BDP was again successful and there was an increase in the number of females and younger parliamentarians.
In October 2004 the BDP won with 44 of the 57 seats in the enlarged assembly. Mogae was returned for a second term as president. The BNF took 12 seats and 26,1% of the votes.
The suffrage universal is at the age of 21.Political facts in the book:
The book has some political implications. The author sets out clearly how the political leaders have changed Botswana. He explains in detail how the country gained its independence and the way in which they elect its president. The book reflects respect and pride about all the things the country has got in not many years.
Another important point which is read between the lines is about women rights.
When the main character Precious is a child, women must obey men, it is clearly shown in her aunt's character, a poor woman with no options in her life except going to live with his cousin and her niece, after being repudiated by her husband just because she wasn't able to get pregnant.
However, when Precious is an adult, she starts her own business and, surprisingly, it is a success although the beginning was hard.
To my mind this fact intends to show the evolution of women's rights in Botswana.
Flora Lomener Carmona