How UDC won Moselewapula by-election

Justin Hunyepa is the Botswana National Front (BNF) spokesperson and he hails the BNF’s coalition partnership with the Botswana Peoples Party (BPP) and later the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) as a winning formula. He challenges anyone to dismiss the UDC project at his or her own peril now or at any stage.

He acknowledges that in the beginning, his party was not given a chance and the UDC was simply dismissed as a bad loser at Moselewapula and this, however, did not dampen their spirits.

He pointed out that the UDC Moselewapula victory in particular dismisses a number of political analysts and their theories as they had already pronounced the death of the BPP and its BNF partner.

For starters, Reuben Ketlhoilwe of the BCP won Moselewapula ward convincingly in a by-election in 2018 following the passing on of Lechedzani Modenga of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) and 2019 Eeneral Elections respectively, undoubtedly popularising the ward as a BCP stronghold.

“The message that is being sold across is ‘UDC or nothing’,” he declared in an interview with Mmegi.

Hunyepa was quick to do his Maths and looked back to the 2021 by-elections in which out of a total of 11 by-elections, the BDP got three, the BNF six and the rest went to other opposition parties.

To him, the results simply reflect “a pattern that people want the UDC.”

He credits the UDC for ‘appropriate messaging’ and that the victory also proves something about the UDC president Duma Boko without running the risk of praise worshipping him.

“When he walked the streets of Moselewapula meeting and greeting people, things completely changed. People started appreciating his leadership style and buying the party appeals,” said Hunyepa who added that Boko has branded the UDC just like he has done with the BNF, a party at which he is also the president.

Boko is also said to have made people fall in love with the UDC. Hunyepa insists

Against all odds, the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) got fixated on winning Moselewapula ward by-election. First, their candidate, Gift Tebo entered the race late in the day after a coalition partner the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) chose to test its strength against the UDC in an arrangement with a newfound partner, the Alliance for Progressives (AP). There were other odds that the UDC beat to its unexpected victory. Mmegi Staffer follows the story

that Batswana have made up their minds to support the UDC as their project geared for regime change come 2024 General Elections.

“People are impressed about the performance of the UDC legislators in Parliament with their quality and relevant debates. That continues to sell the story of the UDC as our people have confidence in the MPs and the party,” he further observed. He gives further credit to the quality of the party candidate, Tebo to have changed the minds of the people to follow the UDC.

Tebo has been working closely with the people through the local development committees and even on the day of the by-election he became the people’s choice.

Hunyepa said the quality of the UDC speakers as they canvassed for the by-election was impressive as they deliberately chose to dwell on bread and butter issues whilst for their opposite numbers, it was business as usual.

Hunyepa claimed that the

UDC as a project and its leadership were instead ridiculed with the usual politics of mudslinging and character assassination something that left the people embracing the UDC for its promises.

The UDC portrayed unity between the BNF, BPP and the BPF as something that moved numbers to their side. He would emphasise that unity, focus and peace helped them sell their story better.

Then there was the story that money was a factor that the UDC allegedly employed to sway votes to their side.

Hunyepa dismissed the allegation vehemently and retorted: “That’s propaganda. Our people hitchhiked to go to Moselewapula to lend their support. Accommodation was a challenge and we didn’t even have sufficient food to feed our cadres on duty.” He challenged the UDC detractors to bring evidence to the contrary.

The BNF was formed as a lead party to unite other parties and Hunyepa is convinced that is what his party is doing at the moment.

One of the things that he is convinced is bringing results is the house-to-house campaigns the BNF is engaging in at the moment as an endeavour to resuscitate his party structures.

The BNF is recruiting people to its fold and it is holding in-house events, open meetings and registering new members in the process. “BNF unity now: UDC victory in 2024” is a motto that is driving the recruitment drive in an endeavour to prepare for the 2024 General Elections.