Opposition 10-3 BDP

While many had concluded that the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) would easily win Bophirima ward owing to fights under the umbrella, the party’s misery continues. After contesting in 13 council by-elections, the ruling party has won only three seats.

Of all these, the opposition gained eight wards from the BDP and lost one to it. As a result, the party has since expressed concern at the turn of events. During the first batch of the 11 by-elections held in December 2021, the BDP won Tumasera, Metsimotlhabe and Moshupa East wards while opposition parties won Nkange, Tamasane, Khwee, Motokwe, Lentsweletau, Mochudi East, Lorolwane and Ga-Molopo wards.

This is even though the Opposition Cooperation Forum made up of Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), Alliance for Progressives (AP) and Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) had issues where parties would not compromise and contested against each other. The parties went on to win Ledumadumane Ward in February this year through the UDC. The ruling party went all out to campaign in Bophirima ward. The Vice President launched the candidate, the President knocked at people’s doors pleading for ‘tlhopho’.

First Lady Neo Masisi also put her weight behind the campaign walking the streets of Bophirima. While the BDP backed its candidate, Botswana Congress Party (BCP) fielded a candidate against the UDC. All this was not enough to convince people that they did not make a mistake in 2019.

Mankie Sekete emerged victorious with 335 votes, BDP came second with Onkemetse Mothei’s 245 votes and BCP’s Peter Mogapi with 238 votes. Could this be a signal that Batswana have lost faith in the BDP government? UDC president, Duma Boko said after their victory in Bophirima that “people are not happy with their quality of life and believe the solution can come from the UDC.”

He is confident that the end of the BDP rule is in 2024. The ruling party admits there is a problem they need to deal with. “We wanted to win just like all other parties. You do not go to war to lose, so we are hurt by this loss. We have not been doing well in the by-elections and it is a cause for concern. By the look of things, both internal and external factors contribute to our losses. “We will regroup as the BDP, we need to hold hands and fix this together. It is our sole responsibility to protect this party and ensure we have a sounding victory come 2024,” BDP Communications Sub Committee chairperson, Kagelelo Kentse said.

Mankie Sekete emerged victorious with 335 votes, BDP came second with Onkemetse Mothei’s 245 votes and BCP’s Peter Mogapi with 238 votes.