The Election Day is much closer than many realize. It lies only 40 months away. With the current on-going government employees strike there is a danger that the urgency of the Election Day may be missed. First on the strike: while some strikers may be sympathetic to some opposition parties, it is critical that both the ruling and opposition parties do not mistake the strike for being that of, or by, opposition party members. The danger is if the ruling party treats strikers as if they are members of the opposition parties, it will alienate its own voters who demand a better wage, and harden its position unnecessarily. On the other hand, if opposition parties assume that the strikers are their members, they do so erroneously since the strike has members from all parties as well as the undecided voter. It is therefore critical that the opposition parties should see the strike as a subtext of what is wrong with Botswana. It is a sign and a manifestation of what has gone wrong with the country in the past few years. The country is sick; so sick that preachers have become liars, spin doctors and swindlers. Those who have raised the alarm have been seen as opposition party members, even if they were not politically aligned, until they finally realized that in this country, there are no more fences; there are no middle grounds; only firmly defined positions. Finally, they gave up and wore the opposition party badge with dignity. Botswana is sick to the core. Its land is sick and produces very little crop. Its citizensí lives are on the ARV support system, barely alive. Its moral fibre has collapsed. Adults sleep with children; the shepherd has become the wolf and blood runs in the streets. The economy is equally in tartars.
It is not only a consequence of international events; it is also a result of twisted priorities and unwise decisions. We find ourselves under siege like the residents of Thebes besieged by the unclean thing. The land is sick; the land weeps as it is watered by the blood of Kalafatis which cries loudly for justice. Corruption reeks! How can a country double the size of the United Kingdom with a population the size of Birmingham be faced with an acute land shortage? Tenders and underhand dealings have blinded the people from truth and righteousness. The people have turned against the country and like wolves they have lacerated it into pieces. We therefore stand here in wonder and bewilderment. Opposition parties have become our source of hope. But for too long they have been too inward looking; comical at best, overcome by personality cults and ideological idiocy. While they duelled amongst themselves ├▒ bickering about who is a bigger loser ├▒ the country has gone up in smoke. However with Boko, Saleshando and Motswaledi there is a glimmer of home and cautious optimism.
To us the strike is not a solution to that which the country demands. The strike doesn├¡t address the moral degradation that has permeated all sectors of the society. It doesn├¡t address the rot. It doesn├¡t deal with the unelected president who has the power of the divine. It doesn├¡t address the reckless economic choices of the land nor does it deal with the education system that lies on its knees. For opposition parties, the strike is not the solution either; elections are. Opposition parties must strike; but strike victory, in 40 months. The call for opposition unity and cooperation grows louder by the day. None will win alone. None should walk the 40 miles in solitude. Together the three must walk under the single light of unity. They must now look towards the horizon and count 40 steps towards history. Some their feet are weary and blistery because they have traversed the opposition terrain the rest of their lives ├▒ but they must know that change lies in the horizon for them to take. Some are fresh on the opposition march, their impatience to take the seat of government has become a source of inspiration to the man and woman who thought the opposition road is endless. But we must acknowledge that the BDP has men and women of character who love this country with great passion; people who are concerned about the route that the country has taken. We enjoin them to come on the bandwagon of change and put country before party and say: “Not in our name.” Only 40 months to change! The number 40 may appear large to some. However, it is little considering the amount of work that must be done.
The 40 mile project may be best divided into 4 chunks. The first 10 months must be devoted to bickering, fighting, arguing, pointing fingers about the opposition party model; arguments and debates about how to share constituencies; who gets what? The object is to get people who can win; people with a public appeal; those who can attract votes – not just the educated ones. This is the beauty of elections. This is a critical stage; a test of character to the opposition model. At this stage the upset and angry ones will express their anger and either leave or stick it out with unity. This stage is important as a learning curve. But everyone must remember that once in government, maemo a mantsi, so fighting over constituencies and council seats may be an unnecessary distraction since the bigger goal is more precious than narrow, individual interests. After the first ten months of ‘blood, toil, tears and sweat’ then the second ten months should be devoted to team building and spreading the message to the grass roots, that those who were once many, are now one. It would be a time to strengthen ties, to express the alternative in the clearest of terms to the doubting Thomases. It would be a time to start finding serious financers beyond the P5 contributions of passionate old ladies. If Guma is right, the 40 miles journey will need about P10million to execute with class, tact and precision. It is also at this stage that the opposition coalition should get a solid think tank to help it take on all debates that may be thrown its way; they should be technocrats of the highest rank whose principal role would be to provide ammunition to the front ranks. The third 10 months should be devoted to establishing solid links with unions if this had not been done already and connecting with those with similar persuasions in the region. This is a time for massive rallies across the country to ensure that candidates are fully supported by most. Party structures must be strengthened since voters are at the grassroots; they are not just people who shake hands or come to rallies. Focus of funds and resources should be put on those virgin constituencies which may be a result of recent delineation. The BDP must be defeated from its core.
Therefore the so-called BDP strongholds must be supreme targets and not treated as no-go-areas. The final ten months must be for encouraging people to register to vote. There is nothing as weak as people who support a party and not translating that to real votes. Words, slogans, party colours and party songs mean nothing, if they do not translate to votes on Election Day. All of these must be done with supreme caution; for there will be accidents, accusations; court cases; secret recordings and spying which may attempt to derail the 40 mile movement.
