For UDC sympathizers the biggest fear is that the centre might just not hold

Alleged misdemeanours and shenanigans aside, the resignation from parliament of James Mathokgwane for a job in one of the state owned parastatals contains a good number of exceedingly valuable clues about the direction our national politics will be adopting ÔÇô at least in the short to medium terms.
First and foremost ÔÇô and this is very important – is that the ruling Botswana Democratic Party, which controls these parastatals, now regards the Umbrella for Democratic Change as a portent contender for state power.
This is immensely significant because there used to be a time when the BDP genuinely believed that they were invincible. The slogan “go ya goileng” loosely translated forever in power was crafted by serious-minded people who, backed by prevailing circumstances sincerely believed in what they were saying. Recited today that slogan sounds somewhat like a poorly composed lullaby.
If the BDP, with so much resources and intelligence at its disposal regards the UDC as such a big threat, then it clearly demonstrates that UDC is much stronger and indeed much more credible that it has itself hitherto appreciated, or more to the point, than it often is given credit for by detached pundits.
History teaches us that deploying state largesse and patronage to win over opposition activists is not a new tactic by the BDP.
Previous beneficiaries of this strategy have included Olebile Gaborone, Methaeno Gaseitsewe, Reggie Reatile, and in a way Otsweletse Moupo and the late Klaas Motshidisi.
Tactics may differ from one beneficiary to the other. But the modus operandi stays the same; to deploy public service jobs as a honey-trap to disorientate and ultimately dismember a resurgent opposition. Painful as Mathokgwane’s resignation might be to UDC, the fact of the matter is that there is nothing new with it.
The second clue to come from Mathokgwane’s resignation is that our politics will in the near future grow increasingly untidy, heartless and indecent. With Mathokgwane’s resignation, the era of a rule-based game which has hitherto been an elementary character of our politics has come to an inglorious end.
That point is underscored by the haste with which the state employed its resources and infrastructure to ensure that news of Mathokgwane’s resignation reached out fast and wide.
The aim was to close out all avenues and deny Mathokgwane a possible change of heart ostensibly stemming from him accessing a second opinion. We have no choice but to once again question the detachment and indeed the impartiality of the Speaker of Botswana parliament. But that is a matter for another day.
The fact of the matter is that looked at its entirety the behavior of the ruling party and its appendages shows that this is an establishment fighting a battle of its life. And in pursuit of regaining the political hegemony that it so demonstrably lost last year the party will be ruthless, efficient and worst of all infinitely unethical.
The efficiency and near seamlessness with which Mathokgwane’s resignation was handled should be a lesson for the UDC to never let its guards down. Put more bluntly the UDC should expect no mercy. Thus it should not give any mercy.
Another clue to emerge from Mathokgwane’s resignation is the preparedness of BDP high priests to literally soil their hands in efforts to enter UDC backyard. This is an altogether new culture. In the past such dirty work was left to obscure foot soldiers.
All indications are that Mathokgwane was from the beginning to the end handled by a clutch of high-powered BDP planners that in them included a number of cabinet ministers. This does not only reflect the premium value of the target, it also is a sign of desperation on the part of the BDP.
The plan worked multiple ways. First, and most importantly it had an effect of making Mathokgwane feel important.
Because these ministers have direct control of the state levers of powers, the plan was to also scare the victim by presenting to him a one directional pathway that only led to him resigning his job as a Member of Parliament the alternative of which would have been to risk collapsing under an apocalyptic litany of litigation, financial ruin and ultimately prison. This is heartless to say the least. For all his follies ÔÇô and there are many – no human being deserves the humiliation with which Mathokgwane has been treated by his BDP handlers.
Clearly at his weakest moment, he confided to them expecting assistance. While they must have often promised him help, we now know that they were also whipping up his fears, playing at his insecurities and saddest of all simultaneously leaking information he had passed to them in confidence. It does not get any more base than that.
Many UDC sympathizers are clearly very angry at Mathokgwane’s resignation. Their anger stems from a fear that the centre might not be strong enough to hold. While understandable, their fears are excessive.
The good thing though is that many UDC members are willing to give Mathokgwane a benefit of doubt. While they are clearly repelled by his casual attitude towards leadership privileges they had entrusted to him, at least for now it would seem like they appreciate the predicament he must have often faced in his solitary space. That really is humbling. Mathokgwane needs help. From the UDC he deserves more sympathy than anger.
UDC members should understand that they do not have the luxury to mourn Mathokgwane’s departure.
In the coming weeks the strategy that ultimately got him to resign his seat will be repeated and enforced with much vigour and refined precision.
It is a strategy that will however not save the BDP.
To save itself the BDP needs to ensure that first and foremost the economy delivers jobs.
The party has to ensure that it arrests corruption that has now reached runway levels.
And there has to be demonstrable determination on the part of those in leadership to stabilize electricity and water supply.
Using state resources to take advantage of the plight of opposition activists can at best provide a momentary respite. It can however never be a substitute for running the country properly.
For UDC, the challenge going forward will be to maintain momentum.
For a party in opposition, that is never going to be easy, especially facing an incumbent that is unrepentant and unapologetic in its use of underhand tactics.
Mathokgwane may never have known when he resigned, but he has ushered a totally new era in our politics. The interest that had ebbed away and was until last week unimaginable is once again back.