Serowe constituencies vulnerable as BPF rumpus continues
Internal fights within the opposition Botswana Patriot Front (BPF) might cost it its three Serowe constituencies if they fail to resolve their issues amicably. The fight over the control of the party has left Serowe residents confused even further as their chiefs are on self-exile in South Africa. The Serowe constituencies are Serowe North, Serowe West and Serowe South.
The three were won by the BPF for the first time in Botswana’s electoral history since Independence in 1966. The trio had been strongholds for the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP). But as things continue to unfold, the BPF may kiss the constituencies goodbye.
Even though some Bangwato believe that they should rally behind their chief and former president Ian Khama, reasons that were used to convince them may not work in the 2024 General Election.
The BPF is a regional party based mainly in the Central District.
Currently, there is no one explaining the recent developments to the party diehards and soon they will get a shock if they are told to change colours as it is contemplated.
What worked for the BPF in 2019 may not work again in the coming general elections.
The latest developments are quite advantageous to the ruling party as it may win back the constituencies since it was having a tough time finding ways of winning back what it lost acrimoniously to the marauding BPF.
Responding to Mmegi enquiries, political analyst Mokaloba Mokaloba acknowledged that the BPF is going through serious challenges and is bound to lose confidence from voters.
“The seats that the BPF won are in Serowe, largely due to the Bangwato and Ian Khama factor. So, a lot will rely on whether they have the support of the Khama surname even with divisions.
Those who have Khama backing can win in Serowe but not anywhere else in the country,” said Mokaloba.
Meanwhile, the BDP spokesperson Kagelelo Kentse said his party has been working hard towards reclaiming constituencies it lost in the 2019 General Elections.
“That is not dependent on BPF internal battles but it’s a nation-wide strategic plan.
We have already set our eyes on 2024 and as you can see, our deliverables speak volumes.
We will continue to do more so that Batswana can see that there is still no alternative. Opposition is in complete shambles, they can’t organise themselves, they can’t be trusted to rule at all,” Kentse said.
An insider source who is a councillor in one of the Serowe constituencies said the latest developments have divided some people in Serowe and they are now slowly losing interest in politics.
Serowe is where the BPF was birthed as a break away party from the ruling BDP in 2019 following a bitter fall out between Khama and President Mokgweetsi Masisi.
“The problem is that politicians only come to people when they have problems. There is no one who is briefing residents about the matter except that people just rely on newspapers and the social media. BPF should sort its issues out if indeed it still wants to be relevant. I will not be shocked if people go back to the BDP.
Some may not vote at all because they believe that there is no progress in their party. Members are complaining about the failure to consult them when there is a problem.
Some believe that the chiefs must focus on their battles for them to come back home and leave the issue of politics since they cannot control the party remotely,” a source that pleaded anonymity said.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that councillors in the area are divided due to party internal fights as they believe that the party secretary-general Tshekedi Khama cannot make directives or decisions while outside the country without even attending the party national executive committee (NEC) meetings.