Name
Democratic Republic of the Congo / Botswanachief of state: President Joseph KABILA (since 17 January 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister Augustin MATATA PONYO Mapon (since 18 April 2012)
cabinet: Ministers of State appointed by the president
elections: under the new constitution, the president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 28 November 2011 (next to be held in November 2016); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Joseph KABILA reelected president; percent of vote - Joseph KABILA 49%, Etienne TSHISEKEDI 32.3%, other 18.7%; note - election marred by serious voting irregularities
note: Joseph KABILA succeeded his father, Laurent Desire KABILA, following the latter's assassination in January 2001; negotiations with rebel leaders led to the establishment of a transitional government in July 2003 with free elections held on 30 July 2006 and a run-off on 29 October 2006 confirming Joseph KABILA as president
Parliament
bicameral legislature consists of a
Senate (108 seats; members elected by provincial “or state” assemblies to serve five-year terms)
National Assembly (500 directly elected by citizens to serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held on 19 January 2007 (next scheduled for 5 June 2013; though likely to be delayed); National Assembly - last held on 28 November 2011 (next to be held in 2016) / chief of state: President Seretse Khama Ian KHAMA (since 1 April 2008); Vice President Ponatshego KEDIKILWE (since 2 August 2012);
head of government: President Seretse Khama Ian KHAMA (since 1 April 2008); Vice President Ponatshego KEDIKILWE (since 2 August 2012)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president indirectly elected for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 20 October 2009 (next to be held in October 2014); vice president appointed by the president
election results: Seretse Khama Ian KHAMA elected president;
Parliament
Political parties of Botswana
- Botswana Alliance Movement or BAM
- Botswana Congress Party or BCP Botswana Democratic Party or BDP
- Botswana Movement for Democracy or BMD
- Botswana National Front or BNF
- Botswana Peoples Party or BPP
- MELS Movement of Botswana or MELS
- New Democratic Front or NDF
the House of Chiefs (a largely advisory 35-member body consisting of the 8 chiefs of the principal tribes, and 27 non-permanent members serving five-year terms
the National Assembly (63 seats directly elected by popular vote)
elections: National Assembly elections last held on 16 October 2009 (next to be held in 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - BDP 53.3%, BNF 21.9%, BCP 19.2%, BAM 2.3%, other 3.3%; seats by party - BDP 45, BNF 6, BCP 4, BAM 1, other 1
** These are abbreviations for political parties the proper names see the list above
Democratic Republic of the Congo
How did President Joseph KABILA get his job?
How do the people in the National Assembly get their job?
Who was Joseph KABILA competitor in the last election? How much of the vote did he get?
What type of Democracy is this? / Botswana
Name the political party that won the last election. Who came in Second?
This is a Parliamentary Democracy so what political Party does President Seretse Khama Ian KHAMA belong to?
How do the people in the National Assembly get their jobs?
How does the President get his job?
The kingdom of Swaziland is one of the world's last remaining absolute monarchies.
The king rules by decree over his million subjects, most of whom live in the countryside and follow traditional ways of life.
The power of the throne, however, has not gone unchallenged.
King Mswati III, on the throne since 1986, is upholding the tradition of his father, King Sobhuza II, who reigned for almost 61 years and had scores of wives.
King Sobhuza scrapped the constitution in 1973 and banned political parties. / How did Mswati III become the leader of Swaziland?
What is his title?
Is there freedom of Speech in Swaziland? Cite text based evidence to explain how you know this.
What type of government does Swaziland have?