It’s Now or Never for the Opposition
Unity and collective efforts to be tested tomorrow in the by elections BDP not concerned by the opposition cooperation
Tomorrow – Saturday, is a do- or- die moment for the opposition collective as they go for their cooperation litmus test against Botswana Democratic Party ( BDP) in the 11 wards by- elections.
Alliance for Progressives ( AP), Botswana Patriotic Front ( BPF) and Umbrella for Democratic Change ( UDC) entered into a memorandum of understanding ( MoU) last year to work together as a collective in all by- elections until the next general election in 2024.
The new development is seen as a test for the opposition to go into the 2024 general election as a united bloc. Having overcome stumbling blocks over the fielding of candidates in some of the wards, which were resolved by the party leadership between BPF and UDC, tomorrow is expected to bear testimony on the working relationship by the opposition.
BPF and UDC could not agree to back one another in at least two wards in which both parties had fielded candidates at Lerolwane ward in the Molapowabojang/ Mmathethe constituency, as well as GaMolopo ward in Goodhope/ Mabule constituency.
BDP will contest in all the 11 wards, UDC in eight wards, BPF in three wards, AP in two wards, Botswana Movement for Democracy ( BMD) in one ward, while five independent candidates will contest in four wards in the elections billed for December 18, 2021.
Ever since it started its campaign the opposition has attracted many people especially to their public rallies which gave them confidence of victory but like history has proven, numbers at rallies do not necessarily translate into votes. Should the opposition win most if not all the wards this could give hope to their supporters that they are on the right track. However, should they lose as the BDP anticipates, this could breed accusations of failure to support one another with negative effects on their working relations going into the 2024 general elections.
Opposition talks for 2024 national polls are expected to be concluded around next year February.
While the opposition is putting together concerted efforts to win all the wards, BDP has since indicated it is not bothered by the collective as this is nothing new.
The BDP Chairman and Vice President Slumber Tsogwane stated that his party will win all the wards on a clean slate. He said the opposition collective is not a threat and has never been a threat to the BDP in the past.
According to Tsogwane, they want a united opposition to
prove that Batswana still believe in the BDP and will vote them in large numbers. He cited the differences between BPF and UDC on fielding of candidates as a sign that there is no collectiveness for the by- elections.
UDC President Advocate Duma Boko over the weekend indicated that it is up to the voters to protect their votes. He said they should not just cast their votes and leave the polling station because the BDP through the Directorate of Intelligence and Security ( DIS) will steal the votes like they did in 2019.
He challenged the voters to guard and protect their votes with their all as this is the only way victory will be certain. He challenged them further to demand certified voters’ roll from
Independent Electoral Commission ( IEC), demand names and identification of polling agents.
The loss that the opposition suffered in 2019 prompted the leadership of this political movement to propose a working relation, with by- elections being a start. According to the MoU its spirit and purpose is to ensure electoral gains, success and victory in any by- 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 agree that cooperation in by- elections will strengthen their commitment to party- to- party relationships and working to increase the understanding of Batswana about
social, economic and political problems.
“We commit that between the years 2020 and the next general elections in 2024, where a by- election- 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 inter- party 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.