OSADJ

Home
OSADJ

Africa's data-driven journalism agency. We rummage through large datasets to uncover new trends, engaging patterns and twists in the tales.

07/02/2024

SOME VOTERS IN BOTSWANA ARE AWAITING SUPPLEMENTARY REGISTRATION

8% of respondents to the ongoing BW2024X Publix Engagement Analysis did not register in the just ended exercise. This was said by the Managing Director of Seedpod Capital Itumeleng Lebogang B. adding that the respondents say they are awaiting supplementary voter registration. This update comes in the wake of unprecedented controversy surrounding the 2024 Botswana general elections.

In November 2023 the opposition coalition Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) took the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to court for refusing the party to deploy its agents to observe the registration process. The coalition party has been accusing the IEC of vote rigging, malafide and sabotage since it lost the 2019 general elections to the ruling Botswana Democratic Party. It took the IEC to court but could not proceed on a point of law.

Last November's case, which UDC lost, had many twists and turns that have left an ugly dent on the country's judiciary. In protest of the state of the judiciary, the Law Society of Botswana (LSB) boycotted the opening of the 2024 legal year and convened a parallel event.

Itumeleng says BW2024X intends to capture the changing dynamics of the election landscape leading to October. She says this is important as this is Botswana’s first general election post the infamous Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak.

To add your voice to the BW2024X survey simply follow this link: https://forms.office.com/r/fugqsgVFYb

OSADJ - Data Journalism Development Programme

27/12/2022

Upcoming entrepreneurs and thought leaders convened for the Business Date Global, a speed-date like business networking event on the 14th December 2022. Founded by Witness Ditshweu just before his final examination at Baisago University, the event has shown significant growth over the last three editions. This year’s edition was held under the theme: “Youth in Business & Mental Health”.

This was a timely theme as 60% of Botswana’s population comprises of young people and it is this demography that is bedeviled by unemployment. What is clear from the presentations at the event is that COVID 19 disrupted the business environment such that so much of what was known before is no longer the same. It emerged that change in business processes and higher fees demanded by institutions required a hardened mental state to overcome these hurdles.

Mental health problems are not openly spoken about in Botswana but its impact is endemic. Perhaps time is overdue for clear policies and or laws that should address some of the root causes of market place stress. These include bullying by employers, excessive working hours without pay and others that may lead to mental stress and trigger mental health issues. All in all, the event was a reminder that regardless of whatever opinions prevailed, it was clear that business was at the centre of solutions that can effectively change lives.

Tshegofatso Kgosintwa
Team Leader; OSADJ - Journalism Development Programme

Address

Website

facebook.com

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when OSADJ posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts