Everyone seems to agree that the only way to overpower the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) is through cooperation between opposition parties. It is quite evident, nothing else, save for a united opposition, can dislodge the BDP. Not even self destruction will break the BDP beyond repair. The BDP, without doubt, is a strong party. We can argue that the BDP has taken advantage of its incumbency to entrench its support across the country. We know for a fact that public resources are being used to advance the BDP propaganda, to the detriment of opposition parties. We also know that the BDP is arrogant and boastful for the simple reason that they know there is still no alternative. I want to believe by now opposition parties have realized that their continued fragmentation is the driving force behind BDP’s continued victory at the polls. Opposition parties ought to know, by now, that unless and until they collectively face the BDP, then the “stupid power”, as described by Kebatlamang Morake, will forever be here. The BDP takes krag from opposition parties’ failure to come together and un-jack it from power.
One may be compelled to ask: now that opposition parties know the root cause of the BDP’s continued success at elections, what are they doing about it? I expect someone from the opposition to quickly respond by giving the names of people who have been assigned by respective opposition parties to map the way forward for cooperation but I want to emphasize that, for this cooperation to be realized, it will need more than just opposition leaders sitting around the table and toasting to a successful negotiation. I have no doubt, as it is very clear, opposition leaders want and are pushing for cooperation amongst their parties. However, I doubt their supporters are following the game. I know for sure that the leaders of the three main opposition parties, being Dumelang Saleshando of the BCP, Duma Boko of the BNF and for now Gomolemo Motswaledi holding it for the BMD, are all for opposition cooperation. These three leaders never miss an opportunity to highlight the importance of a united opposition. My worry is, and it should be to anyone who wants this cooperation, are the general members of these three parties ready to embrace this noble concept? Do they attach the same importance to this project the same way their leaders do? What point does it then hold, if the leaders want to cooperate whereas their followers, who at the end of the day matter the most to the project, are not willing to work together.
Like I said, and I hope they know it, it will take more than just an agreement between the parties’ negotiators. They may agree and indeed adopt the modalities of cooperation but the click of champagne glasses would mean nothing if their voters still don’t see eye to eye. Why do I say their voters do not see eye to eye? Well I have eyes and ears and most importantly the brains. I have also vowed to write the truth as it unfolds before me. I can attest to the differences that exist between the members of the three opposition parties and if these differences are ignored I don’t see the envisaged threesome affair come to fruition. It appears to me that some BNF and BCP members have not reconciled since the latter’s bolting out of the former some thirteen years ago. There is still too much hatred, intolerance, bitterness and lack of trust between some members of the two parties. I was in Selibe Phikwe during the launch of the BMD last year and some BCP members didn’t beat about the bush when they declared their intolerance of the BNF in the opposition cooperation.
At the time, I took their statements lightly but when I now learn of the acrimony that’s reigning supreme between the two parties in Selibe Phikwe I realize they meant what they said. Reports coming from the copper mine indicate that despite the BNF leadership’s decision not to field a candidate for the Ikageng Phase One by-election, supposedly to yield for the BCP candidate, some BNF members went against their party’s central committee decision and attempted to field a candidate, only to be let down by their failure to bring the required number of supporters during the nominations. So it would appear both parties have a problem working with each other and this should not just be wished away. Lately there have been defections amongst opposition parties’ members and when I listen to the tone of some opposition members, especially those whose parties have been affected, I get a feeling this cooperation needs urgent intervention, perhaps from God. If cool heads do not prevail, opposition parties might as well forgo their ambitions of ever becoming a united force.
I have listened to some BCP youth lambasting the BMD and accusing it of recruiting from their ranks. I have also realized that the BMD has become a threat to other opposition parties as it has become the centre of attraction in the country and now, instead of embracing its formation for it hurt the BDP, they now curse the day Khama fell out with these former BDP members. I have also noticed that the BMD think they are smart, brainy and funkier than other opposition parties. This might be true but is the BMD sure other opposition parties are happy with it? I have also noticed that the BCP wants to cooperate with the BMD without the BNF while on the other side the BNF wants to go out with the BMD without the BCP. Trust me it is not going to be easy for the negotiators.
I’m not saying it’s going to be impossible. All I’m saying is that it might be impossible. Even though the models of cooperation have not yet been set out, common sense tells me opposition cooperation means fielding a single candidate to be voted for by the members of all other opposition parties in the cooperation. This therefore means other parties will have to sacrifice and forgo their candidature in some constituencies. The big question is, how are you going to be able to convince people that your party stands a better chance of winning and therefore others should rally behind it?
Opposition cooperation is very important and needs to be addressed now because it might turn out it was all a waste of time when reality eventually beckons in 2013, preparing for 2014. Wining and dining together of opposition leaders means nothing if the people on the ground are not made to realize the good that may come with it. Opposition cooperation needs selflessness. It is important for opposition leaders to suspend any ambitions of holding positions of power, for now, and concentrate on how best to convince the electorates about this project. Opposition leaders must avoid internal power wrangling because if they are to fight amongst themselves, how are they going to handle the delicate issue of distribution of power amongst their parties when, or if they unseat the BDP? I therefore call upon them to desist from scrambling for power and bear in mind that once they work together and unseat the BDP, there would be so many positions of power to distribute amongst themselves once they are in government. I hope they will heed my advice. I hope they will preach the importance of cooperation to the followers.
