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Political Finance Database

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Botswana

2016

2018

2021

Bans and limits on private income

Public funding

Regulations of spending

Reporting, oversight and sanctions

Question	Value
1. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to political parties?	Code No
2. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to candidates?	Code No
3. Is there a ban on corporate donations to political parties?	Code No
4. Is there a ban on corporate donations to candidates?	Code No
5. Is there a ban on donations from Trade Unions to political parties?	Code No
6. Is there a ban on donations from Trade Unions to candidates?	Code No
7. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to political parties?	Code No
8. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to candidates?	Code No
9. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to political parties?	Code No
10. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to candidates?	Code No
11. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to political parties?	Code No
12. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to candidates?	Code No
13. Is there a ban on the use of state resources in favour or against a political party or candidate?	Code No
14. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during a non-election specific period?	Code No
15. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during a non-election specific period, what is the limit?	Code Not applicable
16. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during an election?	Code No
17. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during an election, what is the limit?	Code Not applicable
18. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a candidate?	Code No
19. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a candidate, what is the limit?	Code Not applicable
20. Is there a limit on the amount a candidate can contribute to their own election campaign?	Code No
21. Is there a limit on in-kind donations to political parties?	Code No
22. Is there a limit on in-kind donations to candidates?	Code No
23. Is there a ban on political parties engaging in commercial activities?	Code No Comment The Public Service Act prohibits public servants from engaging in partisan politics. According to Section 37 (d) civil servants should not to engage in any activity outside his official duties which is likely to involve him in political controversy or to lead to his taking improper advantage of his position in the public service. However, the Act is a mechanism for public servants only. This means that the political leadership is exempted from the provisions of the Act. Source Money, Politics and Transparency.
24. Is there a ban on political parties taking loans in relation to election campaigns?	Code No Comment Section 84 of the Electoral Act (hereandafter as the Act) only mentions loans implicitly stating that ll money provided by an association or group of persons or by any person for the election expenses of a candidate, whether as a gift, loan, advance or deposit shall be fully disclosed.
25. Is there a ban on candidates taking loans in relation to election campaigns?	Code No Comment Section 84 of the Electoral Act (hereandafter as the Act) only mentions loans implicitly stating that ll money provided by an association or group of persons or by any person for the election expenses of a candidate, whether as a gift, loan, advance or deposit shall be fully disclosed.
26. Is there a ban on donors to political parties/candidates participating in public tender/procurement processes?	Code No data
27. Are there provisions requiring donations to go through the banking system?	Code No

Question	Value
28. Are there provisions for direct public funding to political parties?	Code No public funding available
29. What are the eligibility criteria for political parties to receive public funding?	Code Not applicable
30. What is the allocation calculation for political parties to receive public funding?	Code Not applicable
31. What are the provisions on 'ear marking' direct public funding to political parties (how it should be used)?	Code Not applicable
32. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for political parties?	Code No
33. What criteria determine allocation for free or subsidized access to media for political parties?	Code Not applicable
34. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for candidates?	Code No
35. Are there provisions for any other form of indirect public funding?	Code Yes Comment The Independent Electoral Commission provides services such as printing, voter’s rolls, voter education materials, and transport for polling agents. Source Bryan, Shari, Baer, Denise (eds.). 2005. Money in Politics: A Study of Party Financing Practices in 22 Countries. Washington DC: The National Democratic Institute for Foreign Affairs (NDI).
36. Is the provision of direct public funding to political parties tied to gender equality among candidates?	Code No
37. Are there provisions for other financial advantages to encourage gender equality in political parties?	Code No

Question	Value
38. Is there a ban on vote buying?	Code Yes Source Article 92 of the Act.
39. Are there limits on the amount a political party can spend?	Code No
40. If there are limits on the amount a political party can spend, what is the limit?	Code Not applicable
41. Are there limits on the amount a candidate can spend?	Code Yes
42. If there are limits on the amount a candidate can spend, what is the limit?	Code 50,000 pulas Source Article 81 of the Act.
43. Are there limits on the amount that third parties can spend on election campaign activities?	Code No data
44. Are there limits on traditional media advertising spending in relation to election campaigns?	Code No data
45. Are there limits on online media advertising spending in relation to election campaigns?	Code No data
46. Do any other restrictions on online media advertisement (beyond limits) exist?	Code No data

Question	Value
47. Do political parties have to report regularly on their finances?	Code No
48. Do political parties have to report on their election campaign finances?	Code Yes Comment Article 86 of the Act states that the secretary of a political party or organisation shall, within 90 days after polling day in the election, render in respect of every candidate sponsored by such party or organisation who stood for election, to the appropriate returning officer a true return showing the expenditure incurred in terms of subsection (1) of this Article and an amount apportioned to each candidate.
49. Do candidates have to report on their election campaign finances?	Code Yes Source Article 87 of the Act.
50. Do third parties have to report on election campaign finances?	Code No data
51. Is information in reports from political parties and/or candidates to be made public?	Code No Comment Not applicable to political parties, no in case of candidates.
52. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates reveal the identity of donors?	Code No
53. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates include information on itemized income?	Code Yes Comment Section 87 of the Act. According to the Independent Electoral Commission, however, political parties and individual candidates are not required to report itemized financial information at any given time. While the law clearly states that candidates should report financial information after general elections, this hasn't been enforced. Source Money, Politics and Transparency.
54. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates include information on itemized spending?	Code Yes Comment Section 85 of the Act. According to the Independent Electoral Commission, however, political parties and individual candidates are not required to report itemized financial information at any given time. While the law clearly states that candidates should report financial information after general elections, this hasn't been enforced. Source Money, Politics and Transparency.
55. Which institution(s) receives financial reports from political parties and/or candidates?	Code EMB Comment EMB = Independent Electoral Commission.
56. Which institution(s) is responsible for examining financial reports and/or investigating violations?	Code Court Comment High Court. Source Article 88 of the Act.
57. What power is granted to the institution(s) responsible for examining reports and/or investigating violations?	Code No data
58. What sanctions are provided for political finance infractions?	Code Fines Prison Other Comment Other = suspension of the right to be elected as a Member or registered as a voter or of voting at an election. Source Sections 90-105 of the Act.

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