A CASE AP-BCP ALLIANCE, The Hope For 2024

Recent political developments that have seen the Alliance for Progressives (AP) putting its weight behind the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) candidate in the Bophirima Ward Bye election are a great move that should renew the hopes of Batswana for a true transformational alternative to the tired and corrupt Botswana Democratic Party (BDP). In 2010 when the Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) was formed, many had thought the party will be more closer to the BCP because the two seemed to share similar values, as compared to what some termed the more radical leftist Botswana National Front (BNF). But we all know, there were disagreements during negotiations that resulted in the collapse of the talks.

Post 2014, when AP was formed from a breakaway from the BMD, there were some amongst the BCP who believed the party should form an alliance with the new outfit. This was at the height of the tormentous period of the Pilane led BMD.

The Umbrella For Democratic Change (UDC) integrity was at its lowest during that period. On the other hand, AP’s star was soaring. It therefore made perfect sense that a relatively stable BCP which values organisational integrity, would partner with a like minded entity like AP for better prospects at the polls. The idea was however still born when the UDC finally took a decision to expel the BMD from its fold. That brought new hope.

AP might not have performed exceptionally in 2019 election, chiefly because people were so much focused on régime change and believed that a new party would not stand a better chance to win state power. On the other the UDC that included a vibrant BCP which boasted of a wide geographical spread in the country, coupled with organisational integrity, presented a better chance at state power than a newly formed outfit. That however should not fool anyone into believing that AP does not command a significant grassroot support.

The party has maintained what matters most in politics - sincerity, and organisational powers! A combination of the BCP and AP will therefore be more attractive to the voter as an alternative to the corrupt BDP than a UDC-BCP arrangement.

An AP-BCP alliance will surely attract a sizeable number of BNF members who are not settled with the current leadership of the party and the UDC in its current shape and form.

An AP-BCP alliance will attract to it’s fold trade unions who have felt undermined and sidelined by the current UDC leadership.

An AP-BCP alliance will attract the middle class and none aligned voters, the election deciders. A party that has the middle class on its side, stand at an advantage. The current UDC which shuns democracy and is run by decree will be relegated to the backseat by an AP-BCP combination. [OBAKENG