The government of Botswana has rejected an application for recognition by a group called the People’s Liberation Movement (PLM), which has objectives similar and inspired by the Arab Spring protests in the Arab states of North Africa and the Middle East. Information reaching Sunday Standard indicates that the movement was recently the subject of intense discussion and scrutiny within the government enclave and intelligence community as its application for recognition was being assessed.
At one point the Department of Civil and National Registration asked the applicants to expand and clarify the movement’s objectives and indicate how it intended to execute its objectives. The Director of the Registrar of Societies, Neo Lepang, in a letter dated 16 April 2014, and directed to the movement’s spokesperson, Mothusi Chabaya, stated that registration was refused because the objectives of the proposed society do not suit those of a political party. “Therefore, your proposed political party cannot be registered,” said Lepang.
When explaining the objectives of the movement to Lepang in a letter dated 08 January 2014, Chabaya said the PLM was a civil organisation that shall be operating through its sworn method of non violent civil action. “We, upon registration, will carry out our mandate through petitions, legal boycotts and demonstrations duly authorised by relevant authorities,” said Chabaya. He added that the PLM aims to teach Batswana methods of non-violent action for self liberation and to act as a vehicle of transition as and when power shifts from the regime to the people. The PLM also wants to educate Batswana about direct participatory democracy and also to liaise with other civil organisations for the democratisation of Botswana’s political landscape. It would also enlighten the nation about a people centred economy that operates on the basis of popular ownership of the means of production.
It also seeks to teach Batswana how to prevent the rise of dictatorships through non-violent action and to link up with and work with other similar movements internationally to advance their shared objectives. In an interview with Sunday Standard, Chabaya blamed the country’s leadership for refusing to grant his movement recognition and said some of their members have received threats. “From the continuous harassment of many people who associate themselves with the PLM, ladies included, it became clear earlier on that someone at the top didn’t want the movement to gain ground.
We are not surprised by the move because the regime knows that registering the PLM was like signing their own death warrant,” he said. He however vowed that the revolution shall go on as they always had a plan B and C in anticipation of the refusal. “The revolution shall go on. Revolutions are hardly registered the world over but come to pass they do,” said Chabaya. He further revealed that the PLM was attracting a lot of interest from Botswana’s political heavyweights as Botswana National Front (BNF) President Duma Boko and Botswana Congress Party(BCP) activist, Moncho Kebonyethebe Moncho were among those who were eagerly awaiting its registration.