An argument has been made in the public discourse that not much should be read in by elections particularly at local government level. Further goes the argument that Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) has been in this position before wherein it lost a few local government elections but subsequently went on the win the general election in that election cycle. Proponents of this argument posit that a general election is a complete contest. Fair enough. I tried unsuccessfully to find out whether the number of local government losses suffered by the BDP in this election cycle compared with the current situation where the frequency of losses is probably noticed by those who do not pay attention to issues of this nature. One would have expected it to have won the Bophirima and Moselewapula by elections given the instability in the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC). In the latest Moselewapula by election, the BDP did not compete but participated considering that its numbers could not even reach half the numbers obtained by the UDC and Botswana Congress Party (BCP).
Official results on Moselewapula are as follows: In the 2019 general election, Moselewapula ward was won by the UDC with 579 votes followed by the BDP with 550 votes. In the weekend by election, the UDC retained it with 339 votes followed by the BCP which was not part of the UDC this time around with 334 votes and lastly the BDP with a paltry 110 votes. Whereas the turn up was low, the paltry votes received by the BDP particularly that it is enjoying the incumbency advantage and with the UDC so divided, is an undisputed stamp of disapproval from all fronts. There are a number of factors whose implications cause the BDP to perform so miserably in the by elections.
There are self-created political issues that are causing the BDP to do so miserably in the recent by elections. The Bophirima and Moselewapula mentioned herein are the cases in point. During the Bophirima ward by election, the BDP was (and I believe is still the case) embroiled in internal political issues in the constituency within which this ward falls. The party’s membership was divided by loyalty to the Member of Parliament for Gaborone Bonnington South constituency Hon Christian Greef and the former Member of Parliament for Mmathethe/Molapowabojang Dr Madigele who has since relocated to this constituency. According to the incumbent, Dr Madigele has brought instability of sorts into the constituency because he allegedly wants to ultimately dethrone Hon Greef. Despite his appeals to the BDP leadership to bring Dr Madigele to order, it appears his pleas have fallen on deaf ears. As a consequence and at the time of the by election at Bophirima, BDP membership was divided resulting in its members and supporters either boycotting the by election or voting for opposition candidates.
At Moselewapula, an internal BDP matter seemed to have ensued. A week or so before the by election, a misunderstanding of sorts emerged between the BDP Chairman Rre Slumber Tsogwane and the party’s Deputy Secretary General Rre Shaw Kgathi. The latter was allegedly chased out a ‘private’ BDP meeting where the former was addressing party members who support him for re-election to the same position. Just like at Bophirima, the misunderstanding between the Chairman and the Deputy Secretary General would have divided the membership with some either boycotting the by election or voting for the opposition. These two issues were avoidable if only the BDP leadership had afforded them the urgency they required considering the negative impact they would have on the party.
Apart from the internal party issues, the BDP seems to have lost the 2019 mojo not only from party membership but the general voters who may have voted for it in the 2019 general election. In the bigger picture of national politics, the party seems to be in sixes and sevens when it comes to issues of national importance. The party remains inward looking more than anything else. The live broadcasting of parliamentary proceedings have rudely exposed the BDP for what it is and for what it stands for. It has become evident the party is resolute that it is going to reject each and every Motion or Private Members’ Bill emanating from opposition Members of Parliament however progressive and in the public good these could be. For example, the BDP has rejected the proposal from opposition parties to amend the Electoral law. One of the proposals was to count and publish votes at the voting station in order to eliminate the possibility of election complaints. The BDP is currently opposing the amendment to the DCEC Act in terms of the Corruption and Economic Crimes (Amendment) Bill 2022 Bill No 8 of 2022. These two proposals in my view, are in the best interests of Batswana. The BDP has resolved to oppose them with their flimsy and un-compelling arguments.
Batswana are experiencing untold sufferings in terms of serious socio-economic circumstances occasioned by the poor performance of the economy. While some of the reasons attributed to the poor performance of the economy are not out of the making of the BDP per se, the general feeling is that the party is not doing enough and tangibly so to cushion Batswana from the socio-economic circumstances they face on a daily basis. On the basis of the negative impact resulting from Covid-19 pandemic on the small and informal business enterprises and the poverty levels compounded by the ever rising cost of living, Batswana at the low tier of the economic structure fell the brunt. In the midst of Batswana socio-economic hardships, government found it fit and prudent to splash P 58 million on buying Tautona Lodge from one of its members under controversial circumstances. Up to this point in time, government has failed and dismally so, to take Batswana into its confidence as to why it could splash so much of public funds to buy that lodge amidst a Covid-19 pandemic that ravaged the population when public health facilities were and are still in dilapidated situations. Medication for common ailments experienced by the vulnerable is not readily available in public health facilities. Corruption has somewhat become a way of life where very little if any is being done to deal with it. A big chunk of Batswana believe BDP MPs have gone to parliament to defend President Masisi instead of pushing an agenda whose spin-offs benefit them in a demonstrable way. In a way, many Batswana believe the BDP has become so detached from them to the point of taking them for granted all step of the way. Nothing suggests the BDP has the wherewithal to deal with the current economic challenges facing the country. The executive appears to be lost like an animal in the wilderness.
In the final analysis, it appears the BDP will continue to struggle in the upcoming by elections as and when the need arises. As long as government continues to play more lip service to Batswana’s socio-economic circumstances as opposed to demonstrating tangible solutions which result in cushioning them from their daily livelihood challenges, more stamps of disapproval will continue to be recorded in the annals of Botswana political history. The earlier the BDP leadership ceases to be preoccupied with the self-serving agenda, the better the chances the voters could give the party votes. I am prepared to be persuaded otherwise as always. Judge for Yourself!
‘No one is safe until everyone is safe’. Let us agree to religiously adhere to all Covid-19 health protocols without fail’. The pandemic is still very much our immediate health threat.
