It’s now or never for Opposition
Parties, minus BMD, shall not contest against each other in local & parliamentary bye-elections between 2020 and next general election of 2024
Poor leadership, disregard for the party constitution, intolerance and the personalisation of power have consigned opposition parties to 'permanent opposition.' However, after more than five decades of failing to dethrone the Botswana Democatic Party, opposition parties are now showing a united front in preparation for the 2024 general election.
This week all opposition parties minue the Botswana movement for Democracy and some smaller parties signed a significant Memorandum of Undestanding on byelections.
The parties; AP, BPF and UDC will not contest against each other in local and parliamentary bye-elections between 2020 and the next general election of 2024.
Opposition parties have sealed their first deal of cooperation by signing a memorandum of Understanding ( MoU) to show their interest in building a stronger foundation as opposition parties, in all future bye- elections.
The Alliance for Progressives ( AP), Botswana Patriotic Front ( BPF) and Umbrella for Democratic Change ( UDC) on Wednesday this week signed the MoU to signify the start of their working relations.
The three ( 3) political formations contested last year’s general election separately in a bid to individually overthrow the Botswana Democratic Party ( BDP) from power but failed. Both the AP and UDC had expressed confidence of taking over government.
The new development is seen as a test for the opposition to go into the 2024 general election as a united bloc. Ahead of the 2019 general election the trio did not see eye to eye due to differences and perceptions they had about each other.
The loss that the opposition suffered last year prompted the leadership of this political movement to propose a working relation with bye- elections being a start.
According to the MoU its spirit and purpose is to ensure electoral gains, success and victory in any bye- election. Each of the contracting parties is enjoined both in the selection of candidates and the mounting of the campaigns to uphold such spirit.
The contracting parties agreed that continuing cooperation in bye- elections will strengthen their commitment to party relationships and working to increase the understanding of Batswana about social, economic and political problems confronting the country.
“We commit that between the years 2020 and the next general election in 2024, where a byeelection- may it be local or parliamentary, is to be held in Botswana, the contracting parties being AP, BPF and UDC shall not contest against each other.
“There shall be Contracting Parties’ By- election Joint Committee which shall be responsible for overseeing the implementation of this MoU, including but not limited to coordinating interparty collaboration and joint campaigns.
“The committee shall be composed of the National Chairpersons and Secretary Generals of the contracting parties,” reads the MoU signed by presidents of the parties.
According to the MoU where one of the contracting parties had won the said vacant seat in the 2019 general election or any election subsequent thereto, the contracting party will have the right to re- contest the seat unopposed.
“Where one of the contracting parties had attained 75 percent or more of the number of votes attained by the winning candidate in the vacant position who had represented a political party that is not a signatory to this MoU, and where one of the contracting parties has obtained this threshold, that party shall contest on behalf of contracting parties,” explains the MoU.
Where none of the contracting parties had fielded candidates in the 2019 general election, the parties’ By- Election Joint Committee shall have the right to decide which one among the contracting parties should contest.
The parties have also agreed on having a Leaders’ Forum, comprising of the presidents of the contracting parties, which shall regulate its own processes and procedures and be the final appellate body in relation to all matters regulated by the agreement.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the contracting parties acknowledge, confirm, and/ or agree that this MoU is not and shall not be construed as laying the basis for future cooperation model between and amongst the contracting parties.
“To that end, the contracting parties collectively and or individually reserve the right, should negotiations on opposition parties’ cooperation beyond the scope of this MoU commence, to suggest any mode and form of cooperation during such negotiations.
“In the event that any agreement being reached by the contracting parties as regards opposition parties’ cooperation beyond by- elections before the year 2024, such agreement shall take precedent over this MoU.”