“Bagaetsho, its enough ka BDP. 2024 re e tlhopha la bofelo, ka 2029 re e leka la bofelo bofelo….2034 owaii foo re e tlhopha la bohelo re le serious jaanong”, writes an individual on social media platform. This should ring out loud and clear to those defecting and intending to defect from BDP. The ‘mother of all tussles’ that ushered in the New Year 2021, between BCP and BNF originated by BNF’s Duma Boko lays credence to the aforementioned.
In his message, Duma Boko, President of the UDC and also of the BNF, with echoes of Talib Kweli reverberating softly in his recess, penned as follows: “I have met scoundrels along the way, ungrateful people whom I have supported and whom I have done so much. Yet to this day they are unable to express any thanks and gratitude. They rather elect to insult, malign and disparage me”, Duma Boko remonstrated. The BCP faithful did not take kindly to Boko’s missive arguing he was attacking the BCP leader Hon Dumelang Saleshando.
On 2nd January 2021, Oral Kealeboga Mosedame of the BCP came out with guns blazing. He accused Duma Boko of having contributed to the loss of the UDC: “Unfortunately, cde Boko’s octave lacked the harmony of its semitones. This was more pronounced during the first ever presidential debates, and the voters judged as they saw fit. Cde Boko’s disposition and attitude at the debate swayed many undecided voters against the UDC. This he continues to do through his outburst and attacks against his colleagues on the social media”.
Responding to this altercation, one of the opposition sympathizers’ responded: “Coalitions are not meant to last forever. Let UDC collapse. There is nothing that can be done to salvage it. Let it end and mongwe le mongwe a boela ga gagwe. BCP and BNF were never going to work together. Some of us had thought the current leaders were progressive nteko re a iphora. Let UDC collapse”.
The BDP on the other hand, has over time managed to find a winning formula amidst the resignations from notable Party members, and has come to perfect the art of making a dramatic comeback. Amongst the BDP stalwarts to defect, was (the late) Wellie ‘Pitla Pitla’ Matheadira Seboni. He contested the 1984 General Elections as an Independent Candidate in the Gaborone South Constituency. After losing dismally, Pitla Pitla joined the Opposition BNF. This notwithstanding, the BDP went on to win the 1989 General Elections, capturing 31 of the 34 constituencies up for grabs. These were the first signs that no one is larger than the Party, not even the larger than life Pitla Pitla.
As recent as 2010, the Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) was formed by some MPs and other politicians who split from the ruling BDP over differences with then BDP leader and President of the Country Lt General Seretse Khama Ian Khama, labelling him a Dictator. The BMDs original leader was the late Gomolemo Motswaledi. Sir G was one of the Leaders of the Barata Party faction within the BDP and had defied calls by the President to compromise during the Party’s National Congress.
Upon Barata Party sweeping all the stakes at the Kanye Congress, Former President Khama went on the rampage and appointed members of the Party’s Sub-Committees of the Central Committee stacked with A-Team members, without consultation with the New Central Committee. The new Secretary General Sir G was chastised by then President Khama to the extent he was even suspended from the Party, leading to the formation of the BMD.
The BMD by virtue of being an Opposition Party, joined ranks with other Opposition Parties. BNF, BPP, and BMD rallied together in the run-up to the 2014 elections, and still were not able to dislodge the BDP from power as they continued internal squabbling. That a sizeable no of individuals including MPs left the BDP to form BMD, leads one to once again logically conclude that the BDP is mightier than individuals and that the Party is a grounded machinery embedded on the grass roots.
Fast forward to July 2019: Enter the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) on stage, a breakaway from the BDP. The BPF was backed by Former President Lt General SKI Khama who was one-time leader of the BDP, one-time Chair of the BDP, and over and above all, Paramount Chief of the Bangwato. Despite former President Khama leading the campaign, the BPF performed dismally in the October 2019 general elections. They received a paltry and miserable 4.3% of the vote and won only three seats, all in Khama’s Central District, thanks to Bogosi.
BPF has since expressed their wish to work with other opposition political parties in an effort to bolster the chances of defeating the BDP, which appears to be their only motivation. This time around, leading to the 2024 General Elections, we are going to experience even more chaotic scenes in the Opposition ranks. The BPF will be approaching the talks with the “head I win, tail you lose” attitude to the chagrin of the BCP and BNF who are already engaged in a bare-knuckled fight.
What has now become an undisputable fact, is that the more Opposition Parties there are on the political landscape of Botswana, the more they try to work together, (under whatever cooperation model), the more pandemonium and turmoil erupts. Oil (BNF) and water (BCP) do not mix, now bring in a powder keg in BPF, it becomes a sure recipe for disaster.
As the BDP continues to bid farewell to some of its notable Members, the recent being Lawrence Ookeditse (fare-thee-well Stallion), they should at the same time be prepared to welcome back their Prodigal sons and daughters. Sooner rather than later, it will no longer be at ease in UDC, things will fall apart and the centre will not hold. Under the Liberal and Progressive Leader, HE MEK Masisi, the run-up to the 2024 General Elections present an opportunity for the BDP to ‘harvest’ in large quantities members from the Opposition and win the elections outright. On your marks, get ready, steady, go!! The 2024 General Elections marathon race has kicked off.
*Kealeboga “Killer Mkhwanazi” Jameson is a BDP activist. He has asked the editor to use a pseudonym
