AP faces litmus test
Strategically target vacant Metsimotlhabe ward Courts opposition to pave way for their candidate
When the Alliance for Progressives ( AP) wrote to invite other opposition parties to form a forum and cooperate during bye- elections, they had one thing in mind – a request to be given Metsimotlhabe ward.
It is still not yet known when President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi will issue a writ of election for all the three vacant seats namely Metsimotlhabe in Gabane- Mmankgodi constituency, Boseja South in Mochudi East and Tamasane in
Mmadinare constituency as election cannot take place during the State of Emergency ( SoE), which will end in April 2021.
However, the opposition is preparing itself so that it is not caught napping on the day the writ is issued. Botswana Guardian has it in good authority that AP took a position after discussing the matter internally and decided to write opposition parties reminding them of the bye- elections and proposing opposition cooperation in them.
Through the AP’s initiative opposition parties - Umbrella for Democratic Change ( UDC), Botswana Patriotic
Front ( BPF) and the AP - met last week and agreed to form a Negotiating Forum. They also appointed former Speaker of the National Assembly Dr. Margaret Nasha, a retired politician and member of the AP, as the Forum’s chairperson.
The parties agreed on general principles of cooperation in three bye- elections, which will be presented to the parties before a Memorandum of Understanding ( MoU) is signed. They agreed on joint caucuses at parliamentary and council levels with the view to moving the opposition agenda forward.
The Negotiating Forum’s next meet
ing is scheduled for Sunday where all parties are expected to bring to the table their expectations for deliberations in order to reach an agreement.
Speaking to Botswana Guardian Nasha confirmed that they will meet on Sunday after which they will hold a press briefing to explain what has been agreed regarding how “we are going to
be conducting the bye- elections for the 2019/ 2024 term”. Currently it remains a closely guarded secret and none of the parties is willing to shed light. In fact all parties involved in the negotiating forum have been given strict orders not to talk to third parties save for those who are authorised to do so at the appropriate time. This agreement was made by the parties and endorsed by the Chairperson of the Negotiating Forum Dr. Margaret Nasha. However, this publication learns from reliable sources that when the AP proposed the opposition cooperation during bye- elections of the three vacant council seats, they were specifically targeting the Metsimotlhabe ward under the Gabane- Mmamakgodi constituency.
Both the ward and the constituency are under the ruling Botswana Democratic Party ( BDP). Major General Pius Mokgware then with Botswana Movement for Democracy ( BMD), formerly won the constituency in 2014 before crossing over with the seat to AP. Mokgware is chairman of AP and the Opposition Parties Committee prepar
ing for the Peoples Court, which was set for last Saturday, but had to be postponed because lead attorney Dick Bayford was bereaved.
Reports indicate that as a member of the constituency that will hold the bye- election, Mokgware made the proposal first to his party which will then present the proposal to the next meeting of the negotiating forum. It is not clear whether AP will still field their 2019 general election candidate, Tshweu Moamogwe, currently serving as Metsimotlhabe Village Development ( VDC) chairman or opt for someone else. Moamogwe lost in 2019 to Andrew Sebubi who died a few months after being elected.
Although they are still to hold primary elections, BDP is reported to have already lined up two candidates - Reverend Moremi Dingalo and a long time activist Bongo, both of whom command a strong following in the area. Mokgware referred all questions to UDC spokesperson Moeti Mohwasa and Dr. Nasha.
In fact all parties involved in the negotiating forum have been given strict orders not to talk to third parties save for those who are authorised to do so at the appropriate time.