Keorapetse leads divided opposition
Two months into his tenure as the Leader of Opposition (LoO), Selebi-Phikwe West legislator, Dithapelo Keorapetse says the opposition is divided with some opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) snubbing caucus meetings.
Taking over through a caucus that removed the suspended Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) vice president and the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) president Dumelang Saleshando from the LoO position, Keorapetse knew it was never going to be smooth sailing. Defying his party in a move that eventually got him expelled from the BCP, Keorapetse was less likely to stabilise the unrest.
The former BCP MP was seen as a usurper and traitor by members of the BCP when he assumed the LoO position in Parliament. He was one of the five MPs who defied a party directive not to participate in the said caucus or any subsequent caucuses intended to deal with any matter affecting Saleshando until after the decision of the party conference of July 15-18.
Along side other expelled MPs namely Kenny Kapinga, Onneetse Ramogapi, Never Tshabang, and David Tshere, Keorapetse made up part of the eight MPs who removed Saleshando. The UDC at the time had 14 MPs in total.
With the other five of the then 11 BCP MPs on Saleshando’s side, Keorapetse took over an opposition divided into UDC loyalists and the pro Saleshando camp. Currently, the five BCP MPs who are on Saleshando’s side are Bobonong MP Taolo Lucas, Sefhare-Ramokgonami MP Dr Kesitegile Gobotswang, Maun East MP Goretetse Kekgonegile, Selebi-Phikwe East MP Kgobero Nkawana and Ngami MP Carter Hikuama.
The quintet has since been joined by Francistown South and Alliance for Progressives (AP) legislator Wynter Mmolotsi following the start of new coalition talks between the BCP and the AP. Now, it looks like they will soon be joined by Okavango MP Kapinga who sought readmission from the BCP this week.
Initially, when Keorapetse took over the LoO position, he only had seven MPs under his leadership. This comprised the suspended four BCP MPs, Francistown West MP Ignatius Moswaane who had joined the Botswana People’s Party (BPP) from the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), the Botswana National Front (BNF)’s Yandani Boko and Motsamai Motsamai.
Now, with the Botswana
Patriotic Front (BPF) having joined the UDC recently, it means that
Keorapetse has added four more MPs to his side. The BPF has all three Serowe MPs being Tshekedi Khama, Baratiwa Mathoothe and Leepetswe Lesedi.
Jwaneng/Mabutsane MP Mephato Reatile who also joined from the BDP completes the list. In total, Keorapetse still has the numbers despite the growing division within the UDC and opposition sphere as a whole.
Speaking of divisions, in an interview this week, Keorapetse told Mmegi that it was a given that the opposition was divided when he took over. He was quick to reveal that so far there is a group of MPs who are not attending the opposition caucus meetings.
“They rarely comment on issues concerning the agenda of Parliament. It is not an easy thing but eventually we soldier on and we are for the UDC taking over government from the BDP. We work towards that objective and we will not be deterred by any upheavals or disapprovals. We are focused on the key objective and the situation on the ground is that Batswana are poor, unemployed and underemployed especially the youth. There is also lack of opport u - nities especially business opportunities. There is also unprecedented bonanza for the few affluent especially naturalised citizens and foreigners. The BDP has no reform capacity and that’s where we come in for check and balances,” he indicated. Commenting on his relationship with Saleshando since the LoO takeover, Keorapetse said they differ politically and do so fundamentally on the issue that the BCP should not leave the UDC. The
Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairperson also pointed out that they differ primarily on that the UDC must not be maligned and must not be slapped with mud.
“The UDC must be preserved because it is a compact organisation ready to take over from the ruling party. We differed with Saleshando when the BCP ran solo in Bophirima and Moselewapula wards. We differed when he said he is not in the UDC but wanted to remain the chief spokesperson, which is what the Leader of Opposition is in Parliament,” he added.
On the fact that he is at loggerheads with Saleshando, Keorapetse accentuated that it must be seen as differences of opinions in terms of how they further political objectives.
“There is nothing personal here, and this is not a family affair,” he emphasised.
As the LoO, Keorapetse is the official spokesperson of the majority opposition party in Parliament. He has the right to make official statements in the National Assembly on important national and international issues on behalf of the majority opposition. He now enjoys the same status as the Leader of the House in relation to the business of the House. Keorapetse is allotted longer speaking times than ordinary members during debates on the State of the Nation Address, Budget Speech or any other major government policy statement.
With the Keorapetse-led opposition no longer united, it means they will have a hard time taking the lead in holding the government accountable for its policies and actions. In Parliament, opposition parties usually oppose and criticise government policies by suggesting improvements and presenting the alternative but now it has all fallen apart with other members not attending the party caucuses.
Tasked with the power to influence the formulation of laws and policies, opposition members have forgotten about the main task at hand. They have uncovered and highlighted their differences and tensions but failed to come with a solution as they head to the 2024 General Elections.