10 Oct 2019

Botswana Defence Force (BDF) has noted with regret the use of photographs of members of the BDF in political campaigns.

BDF released a press statement citing posts on social media, particularly that which depicted BDF members on Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse’s Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) online campaign posts.

The BDF press statement indicates that this trend does not only discredit the BDF as an apolitical organisation, but also creates a false perception associating the BDF with such political parties, which is against the laws of Botswana.

The BDF states that they cannot be associated with an individual organisation or movement of a political character as clearly stated in the BDF Act, Section 150 (1).

“A person subject to this Act shall not become a member of a political party or be associated with an organisation or movement of a political character.”

Furthermore, the BDF informs the concerned political parties and individuals to act responsibly by desisting from using photographs depicting any BDF activity, equipment, personnel in uniform or any other things that may be deemed to be associated with BDF for political gain or anything likely to create that it was for political gain.

Additionally, BDF says using photographs of members of the BDF clad in their uniform without their personnel consent constitute a violation of their personal rights and may compromise their status as apolitical members of BDF, hence contravening the Act.

However, the BDF says it cannot deny any political figure to reference it in their campaigns; but states images of soldiers and officers cannot be used in campaign materials without due consideration.

BDF states that the involvement of BDF members in the uniform can be prejudicial to the individuals concerned by contravening Section 272 of the BDF Act, which states; “A person who, without authority, uses or wears any service decoration, uniform or any badge, insignia of rank, wound stripe or emblem supplied or authorised by the President or the Defence Council commits an offence and shall on conviction be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years.”

The BDF therefore informs the public that it remains an apolitical organisation and hopes that the pictures of BDF troops and officers and equipment will be removed from political campaign material of the above mentioned.

BDF states that the integrity of Botswana’s public institutions including that of the BDF should be safe guarded and it is the BDF’s hope that other political candidates will not engage in such activities. ENDS