The Botswana Democratic Party’s (BDP) magnificent history and the reputation of its self-taught political philosophers has carried it across battle lines at polls that have become synonymous with Botswana’s democratic credentials. Throughout the BDP’s rule or misrule, Botswana has transformed from an empty desert land to an upper-middle income country.
We may not agree on whether the BDP did enough to develop Botswana given the resources at their disposal, but what is not in doubt is that they were in charge of the republic as it transformed from a hopeless case to a miracle. This history cannot be dismissed with the simplicity of sore losers. It is an authoritative achievement regardless of how we may, for political posturing and grandstanding, pretend that they did nothing.
Related to this accomplishment, is another debatable proposition that helped shield the BDP from opposition onslaught and that is that the BDP of yesteryear was blessed with eminent, credible and honourable personalities who commanded loyalty and respect across the political divide. Thus, the BDP’s yesteryear leadership strived to uphold a value system that resonates with Batswana way of life.
Then, many opposition folks challenged the BDP not so much because the BDP was ruining our economy or that they (the opposition) had the best of ideas but largely because multiparty and democratic systems offer opportunities for the expression of alternative views irrespective of their sensibility.
Thus, fierce opponents of the BDP often fell short of discrediting its approach to doing politics and implementing the nation’s development agenda mainly because in spite of limitations typical of any human endeavours, the BDP served Batswana satisfactorily under the circumstances.
In short, the BDP leaders of yesteryears were above reproach in spite of natural flailing inherent in all human beings. In effect, back then many in the opposition were opposed to the BDP government not so much in the desire to form an alternative government and take up governmental responsibilities as in the desire to contribute to the political development of Botswana outside of the ruling establishment.
Fundamentally, BDP’s political opponents challenged them not because they disagreed on major policy issues but rather on implementation models. Essentially, the BDP government was doing the right thing but may be not doing it right.
These credible and honourable leaders of the BDP provided an environment conducive for responsible and humane politics espoused on values of political tolerance and mature engagement. A combination of the glorious history and an honourable leadership ensured the BDP enjoyed overwhelming support from a majority of Batswana regardless of ideological differences. While other people obviously had some issues with the ruling party, many Batswana nevertheless approved of its handling of public affairs and the pleasant manners of its leaders that spilled over to the entire citizenry.
However, over the last few years the BDP has been recording consistently declining electoral fortunes. This has resulted in the BDP becoming extremely desperate, irrational and jittery leading them to experiment with all sort of ridiculous and counter-productive propaganda. Yet, the biggest challenge the BDP face today is a leadership challenge, specifically a foul-mouthed, blasphemous and maligning leadership that has no room for self-correction.
Obviously BDP activists would frown on this argument not because it is based on a false premise but simply because party policy demand that they defend their leaders at any price and in keeping with this, many BDP members subscribe to the principle of see no evil, hear no evil [at least if it comes from their leaders]. It really does not matter what the party leaders say or do or the damage occasioned by their pronoucements, they just have to be defended. This reminds me of one high ranking member of the ANC who remarked that they will defend party president Jacob Zuma with their buttocks ÔÇô Re tlo thiba ka dibono’, perhaps regardless of President Zuma’s misconduct.
Thus, BDP members are expected to show loyalty to the party by defending its leaders at any costs. In particular, the youth must be the first line of defence and this has resulted in the Young Turks tripping over each other to show who is more loyal and vocal, in the process engaging in vulgar politics, which the leaders seem to endorse wholeheartedly.
In consequence, Botswana has fallen into the rot of politics of character assassination and significantly, BDP leaders have become leading voices of political vulgarity, going as far as recognizing and rewarding smooth criminals, uncouth and profanity-loaded jerks by parachuting them into leadership positions in the party.
These renowned brutes with little patience for civilized politics are always handpicked to accompany the state president on a whirlwind of campaign rallies using our taxes to promote mafia-styled political rhetoric. The BDP leaders’ conscious decision to co-opt bandits and finance them to spearhead the rejection of all norms of civilized discourse has been the lowest point in the party’s history and it shall haunt them for many years to come.
When one of their leaders proudly retorted that it was their time to eat, many people were crudely reminded of the perils of mass corruption in some parts of Africa where leaders and their associates have a license to loot the national treasury at will. Since there are no consequences for those who bring the party into disrepute by uttering garbage, it is safe to say that such acts mirror party position.
For instance, the slandering of the Batawana royalty in all manner of crass and his being depicted as an irresponsible father has compromised the BDP leaders’ reputation and the party is unlikely to ever recover from this crime. More than the self-inflicted damage, the vicious public taunting of a Chief in his backyard has bred nasty political porn that is today trending on social media and it shall not die down any time soon regardless of the looming punitive clauses. Their lack of tact that saw them attack former state presidents Masire and Mogae was indeed a psychological disaster for a party that survives mostly on the elderly.
At the height of the 2014 general election His Honour the Vice President Masisi recording about their election strategy that entailed creating fake facebook accounts to infiltrate the opposition got leaked it unquestionably characterized him as a dangerous psychopath. The VP probably never considered the long term effects of his crazed actions on Botswana society. Today social media is abuzz with fake accounts created to paddle malicious political japery and this from the sterling work of the BDP leadership, a blow from which society will never recover.
Batswana are a cultured, self-respecting and high-bred people who prefer the kinder and gentler politics that by and large advance a mature national conversation about our development agenda. Batswana expect leaders to maintain the highest standards of conduct life. Subjecting political opponents to derision and discussing the promiscuity of public figures is as disgusting as it is against everything Botswana stands for. It is nasty, mean and unpardonable and many Batswana will not associate with a party whose leaders take pride in snooping into bedrooms for pornographic materials and to verify the sexual functionality or dysfunctionality of citizens.
Essentially, the BDP has lost the plot but its leaders cannot bring themselves to confront the mire into which the party has descended. Petty insults, swearing and shouting, the use of innuendos and crudities at their most indelicate is what defines the BDP of today. The BDP leaders have become notorious for bluntness, confrontational and abusive politics that has turned the political space up-side down by proudly financing architects of crude obscenity and undermining the dignity of our politics. At the very least the BDP leaders are petty and quarrelsome to a point where the world does no longer take us seriously.
Nonetheless, they have only themselves to blame. They have over the years become exceptionally arrogant and believed that the BDP was invincible. Their desperation and willingness to resort to vulgar politics has alienated party members and unaffiliated sympathizers hence the BDP is locked in a nail-biting race to the bottom where they also fight amongst themselves for bragging rights for the most vulgar. For many years vulgar politics was associated with losers and minions and when those in power employ its rhetoric, it merely confirms that they are finished and can never be re-engineered to rediscover their might.
