Press Release (1) Re: Afrobarometer - 88% Approval for President Khama's leadership; Survey shows strong public support for Government efforts

source: Republic of Botswana (23/2/09): TAUTONA TIMES no 4 of 2009
The Weekly Electronic Press Circular of the Office of the President "Democracy, Development, Dignity and Discipline"

C1) 23/2/09: Press Release (1) Re: Afrobarometer - 88% Approval for President Khama's leadership; Survey shows strong public support for Government efforts

The Botswana results 2008 Afrobarometer Survey were released on Friday. Prominent among the surveys finding's was record high level's of public support for the leadership of H.E. the President, Lt. General Seretse Khama Ian Khama.

Asked "do you approve or disapprove of the way President Ian Khama has performed his job since taking Office in April 2008?" a total of 88% said they approved, with 52% saying that they strongly approved. Only 8% said they disapproved of the President's performance.

The President's approval rating was the highest locally recorded by the Survey, and is certainly one of the highest job approval ratings for any current Head of State.

According to the Survey if a Presidential election was held 69% of the public said they would vote for the BDP leader, compared to 13% for the leader of the BNF and 8% for the leader of the BCP.

By contrast the approval rating for Members of Parliament was somewhat less. According to the survey only 45% of Batswana approved of the performance of their MP, while 50% disapproved.

President Khama's high approval rating is consistent with the high recorded levels of public trust he enjoys, with 56% expressing a lot of trust (and 20% some) in the leader versus 6% voicing mistrust.

In terms of political parties 49% of the respondents expressed a lot, and 25% some trust in the ruling party, for a composite figure of 74%, with 11% expressing mistrust.

On the other hand only 13% of the public expressed a lot and 17% some, trust in the opposition parties, with 68% expressing little or no trust in the opposition.

Among other stakeholders 71% expressed trust in the police, 72% in the Courts, and 45% in Members of Parliament.

In terms of service delivery 76% of the public said that Government was doing well or fairly well handling the economy, 75% in reducing crime, 80% in providing Health Services, 84% in providing education, 95% in combating HIV/AIDS, 72% in providing water and sanitation, 69% in fighting corruption, 66% in providing electricity 58% in maintaining roads and bridges and 60% in improving the living standards of the poor.

But, 66% believed that Government could do better in creating jobs, and 88% believed more should be done to control inflation.

In terms of gender relations, 77% of the public, both male and female, believed that Government was doing well or very well in empowering women.