BDP IS A BYELECTION SUPERPOWER

Once before, we mulled the topic of “super- power” and the subject was the United States. According to decades- old legend, the US is a military super- power but according to the historical record, the country has lost every war since World War II. Not long ago, the Taliban hounded the US out of Afghanistan and the latter had to leave so fast that it left some of its property behind.

Another country has also been described as a super- power for almost as long as the US – Russia. Almost a week after invading Ukraine, this other super- power has been unable to subdue a nation that has never been known for its military strength. Here’s a new dictionary entry for “superpower”: a hopelessly weak entity that is believed to be strong.

In terms of this definition, the Botswana Democratic Party is a byelections super- power.

Having ruled Botswana since 1966, the party is believed to be strong but by- election results of this election term show that the BDP is actually a super- power. When you think of it, “super” is a term that always means its opposite. What is super about people called “Super”? One, said to be unusually tough and brave, fled to South Africa when the Directorate of Intelligence Services and Security closed in on him.

How many football teams with players called Super get trounced on weekends? How many men have been disappointed by their powerlessness after taking an aphrodisiac called Super One? There is mealie- pap called Super A1 but what can be nutritionally super about over- processed food?