Opposition Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) will not win the 2019 general elections, according to a political analyst.
Anthony Morima has observed that the current formation of new opposition parties does not make it easy for opposition to win the national elections in 2019.
“In fact I see them losing the elections.”
In an interview, Morima said currently the opposition was disintegrated following the split of Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) which led to the birth of Alliance for Progressives (AP).
The AP led by Ndaba Gaolathe has vowed that it will never be part of UDC as long as their archrivals led by BMD President Sidney Pilane are part of the coalition project.
Morima dismissed suggestions that the recent by-election in Mochudi East constituency could be used as a litmus test that the UDC is still a force to reckon with.
“Mochudi East is a stronghold of the UDC and as such it was destined to win the constituency. But that will not be the case for the Moshupa-Manyana by-election,” he added.
He observed that in the past despite all the odds against the then BDP candidate including high unemployment rate and the public sector industrial strike, the current President went on to win the elections with a considerable margin in 2014.
In the last elections Masisi representing BDP triumphed by a convincing 6831 votes against Ngaka Monageng of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) who got 3231 votes while Benny Stegling of Botswana Congress Party (BCP) got 2557.
The Moshupa-Manyana constituency seat became vacant following the ascendency of Mokgweetsi Masisi to the presidency.
BDP’s hopeful Karabo Gare is expected to represent the party in the area while the UDC is yet to identify a candidate to represent it in the area.
Moshupa also has 8 wards. All but one are in the hands of the ruling BDP.
A by election saw opposition Botswana Congress Party (BCP) win one of those, Moshupa West. Other wards include Lotlhakane West, Manyana/Mogonye, Moshupa East, Moshupa North, Moshupa South, Pitseng and Ralekgetho.
Despite Morima dismissing the UDC, its President Duma Boko believes the coalition movement is on course to spring a surprise during the 2019 polls. During his recent nation-wide tours, Boko said that there is nothing that will derail the UDC from attaining political power in 2019.
