Ever since the creation of Botswana as a Republic, veteran politicians from both the ruling party and the opposition have come and passed. The government of the day had full respect to the few opposition members in Parliament because their input in deliberations was rated as equally important. But the growing support the opposition political parties have come to enjoy seriously threatens the very existence of the ruling party to an extent that dubious methods are systematically employed to weaken the opposition . ‘ bakeresete cogang, ntwa e ha kgorong, Thebe e tseen, le lerumo atleng….’
As we all know that the constitution of the land stipulates clearly that Botswana has been created among others upon the principle of a multi – party political system, a provision that every Motswana must uphold and respect at all times. Realising that segments of political groups could not individually make it, a deliberate decision was made to create a united front, hence the birth of Umbrella for Democratic Change. Motswana a re ‘moroto wa o esi ga o ele’ wa ‘ba le bantsi morwalela’.
Recent utterances by top political leaders in the ruling party are intended to dismiss the opposition group as a viable entity. It is happening to the Botswana Movement for Democracy, external forces have managed to cross the line with the aid of ‘Big Brother’. ‘Ha lo le mashweng, tlhagahalang, disang, me lo se boiheng, me lo se hulareng; Mmaba oa lehihi, lo ka mo henya’.
It is disappointing to hear statements from the custodian of Botswana constitution, who publicly denounced the opposition political parties as ‘a non ÔÇô starter’. Instead, he should simply have advised his followers to ‘wake up’ because the opposition is about to take the reigns of power. ‘Big Brother’, whenever there is need for change, no single man can stop it.
Ian Douglas Smith once said Southern Rhodesia would not become independent ‘ not in his life time’. But despite all the rhetoric, the struggle continued and Rhodesia became independent. He lived to see it all.
It is also worrying that prominent political figures in our society are bent on making statements that demean the positive role played by the opposition parties. Opposition parties represent the electorate in Parliament and have a proper role to play as Legislators. It is time the leadership realises the value and the significant role played by the opposition in a democracy. To divide what the masses have created is ‘opportunistic’ and ‘dangerous’.
History has taught us that it is much safer to live office at an opportune moment, it is much safer to relinquish power when the tide has receded than to wait until ‘sour and bitter moments’ are come. ‘Ha batho ba sa go batle tsamaya go santse go bonala. ‘Tlogela maretshwa tlogela go potela’. When tables turned, Macbeth in Shakespeare’s Macbeth had in a desperate situation shouted ‘I’ll fight, till from my bones my flesh be hack’d. Give me my armour’.
As some prominent figures in our society would remind those who cared to listen that the opposition should be recognised as they could form an alternative government in the future. It is a fact but not a ‘fairy tale’. Even if one could buy sophisticated weapons of war, he or she cannot stop people from saying no to ‘nonsense’. The English saying that ‘the writing is on the wall’ is an expression that even a fool should mark and understand.
Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) was formed with a clear sense of purpose. Four political parties together with numerous talents and minds that one can think of, that alone is enough to make the ‘monster’ panic. It is not the BMD that is being destroyed, the intention is to destroy UDC, the main opposition in Botswana. It is tantamount to destroying democracy. ‘Mongwe le mongwe o tsile go sekela melato e a e dirileng’ so says the Holy Book. No hiding behind the EVM, no hiding behind dirty tricks.
There are living examples where great men were fished out of the pond. We saw that in West Africa (motho a tswa a apere besete), we saw that in Iraq (motho a tswa mo mosimeng, tedu tsa gagwe e ka re tlhaga ya ga Dineo), we saw it Lybia (motho a gogwa gogwa mo mekgwatlheng jaaka setsenwa). Batswana would not like to see such dirty scenes. Personally I do not support violence, I do not condone it. ‘Mme maloba jaana ke bone batho ba tutetse, ba rototse matlho ka tshakgalo e kgolo, ba re motho o sia ka se sa bone’.
