Rocky road ahead for the BMD
FRANCISTOWN: The Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) goes to an elective congress this weekend in Mahalapye for the first time since the 2019 General Election.
It is public knowledge that the party intends to use the outcomes of the congress to begin its journey towards redemption, leading to the 2024 General Election. The party’s image has been tarnished by the turmoil of over five years ago at its bloody congress in Bobonong. Then two party factions battled for the soul of the party.
Since then, its membership base has significantly dwindled. After the bloody congress, the BMD experienced a split that led to the formation of the Alliance for Progressives (AP). The faction that formed the AP was led by Ndaba Gaolathe.
What is worth noting is that the revival of the BMD will be difficult owing to several factors. Best put, post the Mahalapye congress, the party might still face numerous challenges in a bid to attract members to its fold. Chiefly, the party lacks grassroots politicians or individuals with charisma. Charisma is a vital attribute for a political leader. It can be used as a bait to lure members to the party. Already, there is no indication that the Mahalapye congress will usher in fresh and charismatic leaders who can attract people to join the party. Without charismatic leaders the disconnection between the BMD and the masses will not subside. Additionally, the history of some of the current BMD leaders is shrouded in controversy. Should some of them be retained in leadership positions, they might struggle to shrug off the controversy associated
with the ugly incidents in Bobonong. There has been a growing narrative that some of the current BMD leaders and ordinary activists significantly contributed to the infighting in Bobonong. The Mahalapye congress will have to come up with strategies to counter such a narrative. Otherwise, the party will continue to struggle to attract new members.
Lack of enthusiasm leading to the congress also strongly indicates that the revival of the party will not be an easy task. Few members have shown desire to contest leadership positions and no one has expressed interest to replace the outgoing president, Sidney Pilane. This can be treated as an indication that many people do not want to join or associate themselves with the party. It is a clear message that the BMD will have to do more to broaden its membership base.
Another main element that will make the BMD’s road to redemption very challenging is that since 2017, the party has been dormant and it has not been pragmatic in terms of tackling issues of national interest. Every political party is sustained by energetic participation in activities of national interest. Other opposition parties have their own problems but they have programmes of action that have been able to keep them relatively relevant and alive. The BMD has not been able to take key positions on important policy matters and providing alternatives. An opposition party that does not practise this philosophy should forget about the prospects of attracting members to its fold or remaining relevant.
Furthermore, it cannot be denied that other opposition parties have tried their best to preserve democracy and their entities by participating at bye-elections that have been held since the 2019 General Election.
They have used by-elections to gauge their strength and build momentum. The BMD has not participated in almost all by-elections that have been held since the last general elections. This is a clear indication that the BMD has a tough task ahead and if it does not change tact post the Mahalapye meet, its revival will remain an elusive goal.
The future of the BMD might seemingly look gloom, but the BMD chairperson Nehemiah Modubule remains optimistic that the party can reclaim its status as one of the most likeable political entities in the country.
“I admit that the party has regressed in various areas since the last general elections. One of the reasons is that we have received less coverage from the media. We also lost some members to other political formations in recent years particularly after the general elections. We now want to start afresh,” he said.
Modubule downplayed suggestions that the Matshekge debacle has rendered the BMD a less attractive entity because the party prominently features those who were accused of instigating the fights. The BMD members who were accused of instigating tension in Matshekge have denied the accusations using the party’s official platforms.
“We were not fighting alone. There were two warring factions fighting each other at the congress. If the people can join the AP who feature some of those who were also fighting in Bobonong, why can’t they join us?”.
Modubule explained that the BMD has carried out an assessment and identified its weaknesses. He acknowledged that rebuilding the party will be a tough exercise but emphasised that the task is not impossible to do.
“Our main challenge is finance, but the congress will come up with several strategies that we can deploy to ensure the revival of the party. The focus is on the future not what happened in past.”
Modubule told Mmegi that over 350 delegates from 25 constituencies have reaffirmed their commitment to attend the congress. This he said is a sign that the party can be successfully revived. Only time will tell if Modubule’s statements were a public relations statement-cum-stunt mostly employed by political leaders when they try to drum the morale of their fading parties.