Opposition unity is a virtual necessity. If it’s properly conceived and managed skilfully, it can be used to revitalise good governance and help transform Botswana into a prototype (role model) of decent democratic leadership.
With a robust and productive democracy, Botswana can faithfully restore hope in Africa where leaders with dead conscience and immature ignorance have effectively institutionalised oligarchy (democracy for the few), and caused citizens to remain hopelessly trapped in a vicious cycle of dehumanising poverty and the culture of rightlessness.
In many African countries opposition parties are part of the problem for their insatiable desire for personal power has resulted in the pitiful fragmentation of the powerless. Significantly, even when leaders rise to victory, they don’t use it to radically transform the living realities of the people because the leaders themselves still largely conform to colonial attitudinal sets.
Even in Botswana opposition leaders and other prominent actors disappointingly behave like colonisers. They would only do the best for the “oppressed sectors” once they’re authentically delivered from the colonial mentality that motivates them to want to rule, dominate and abuse other people.
Regrettably, authentic and durable unity that we keep wishing and hoping opposition parties in Botswana would soon establish and usher in revolutionary politics of democratic citizen empowerment is just a tantalising mirage.
Some leaders are obviously unscrupulous. Their hearts aren’t in the right place. They can’t see the big picture but only what they want to greedily grab for themselves and prevail against other competitors. They’re conveniently playing to the gallery, but in actuality their ulterior motives are bound to militate against the formation of genuine smart partnership among opposition parties.
Stated differently, the conditions that are required for desirable opposition unity to occur and flourish have not yet been manufactured within the opposition. For instance, the prevailing toxic mutual distrust is bound to grow, especially because some leaders lack the skills of tact and diplomacy. Many of the things they say behind the scenes are being dangerously leaked to their counterparts, and they fuel and deepen mistrust.
We should also accept that the period between now and 2014 is too short for opposition parties with some “intractable personalities” to be turned into reliable vehicles for functional opposition alliance. Such leaders need time to process their delinquency before they can become genuine positive change agents.
I see three ugly things that are frustratingly disturbing. First, premeditated evil delays which would deplete the energy and morale of other opposition parties until they fail to bear fruit; Second, a sand rope (that is, flimsy and faltering form of cooperation that would result in the opposition’s tragic defeat in 2014); and thirdly, something that would appear authentic but ultimately degenerate into a pig in the poke just before the general elections.
These scenarios could create the heavy impression that opposition parties shouldn’t be believed and trusted. The resultant political confusion would keep the rulers in power irrespective of the health status of their party.
Sadly, some thoroughly deceived opposition leaders are still too na├»ve about opposition unity. They’re not aware of the booby-traps or landmines set up by self-serving enemies of true human freedom.
Such ignorant leaders are too trusting. They should approach opposition unity dialogue with political sophistication and exceptional scrutiny. Specifically, they should urgently pay attention to the following major roadblocks and mobilise more Batswana to debate the issue of opposition cooperation freely and constructively.
Misidentification of the enemy
Despite what some opposition leaders are telling the nation, their arch-rival is not the BDP. Their eyes are glued on their opponents in the opposition. They would do absolutely everything that’s required to topple and humiliate their enemies in the opposition camp.
Dangerous hired saboteurs
Some unscrupulous people (Judas Iscariots) have already been strategically entrenched in their parties not only to sabotage opposition unity; they’re expected to deliberately put a spoke in the wheels of their own parties for the benefit of hiding sponsors within and without opposition parties.
The internal sponsors clandestinely collaborate with external enemies. Some of the internal sponsors are people who don’t really believe the opposition can defeat the ruling BDP. They’re only in the opposition for “commercialised politics”. These peripheral operators are only found in the dark rooms in control towers of the opposition. But because of their profound influence on the frontline operators like members of the Central Committee, these “dark room operators” are capable of quietly inflicting catastrophic damage in the opposition just for financial gain and other benefits.
Political saboteurs would temporarily come across as elegant and diligent innovators, liberators and transformers. Their speeches would radiate “superior intelligence”, but at the “appropriate time” the “supreme sponsors” would pull the strings and colossally actualise their sovereign will and complicate matters for the disjointed opposition.
In our dangerous season of the “politics for personal survival”, some people (who’re not genuine politicians) have now discovered that they can prosper immensely by selling their deformed souls for materialistic self-preservation. Thus, between now and 2014 and beyond, such people would shockingly live like kings even if their parties perform dismally.
These mercenaries are intelligently bribed by ruthless controllers in the high centres of power to confuse, misdirect and overwhelm opposition parties. Sponsors would literally use this strategy (“indirect co-option” or “decapitation”) to think for some opposition parties and use hired opposition leaders to derail and fail the opposition before and during elections.
Interestingly, this time around the mercenaries would pose as radical and eloquent protesters against the ruling Botswana Democratic party (BDP). A section of the private media would be deceived into exalting these counterfeit politicians. But eventually disenchanted Batswana would cry bitterly upon realising that the pretenders surreptitiously co-labour with the enemies of the people.
Character malaise
The fact of the matter is that some opposition leaders are terribly poor in character to provide the way out of stupefying crossroads. But they’re lucky because in Botswana we’ve set ridiculously low standards for delinquent politicians and other leaders. Outwardly they look like they’re righteous and genuinely love the poor. But inwardly they’re dirty hypocrites who’re desperately itching to rise and shine by abusing other opposition parties and the “unthinking masses”.
These immature leaders are in politics for the wrong reasons. Their main problem is that they’re not ready to truthfully sacrifice their lives for the nation. Their interests come first before the needs of the poor. They would only cooperate with other opposition parties provided they’re guaranteed a superior status.
When push comes to shove, these egocentric hypocrites would shamelessly partner with the enemy to acquire personal and sectarian breakthroughs at the expense of the future that we should all be selflessly and indefatigably working for.
May I repeat this vital truth: as long as some clever leaders want the entire opposition to subordinate itself to their selfish desires, meaningful opposition cooperation would remain a pie in the sky. The ruling BDP would buoyantly return to power in 2014.
Massive ideological pride
Incorrigible ideological pride would deter opposition cooperation. The counter-productive belief that some parties lack social legitimacy because they’re splinters from big parties will remain a millstone around the neck of these despised parties. Consider that some opposition leaders are adamant that before the Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) can be taken seriously, it should prove its revolutionary potential and staying power by completely dislocating and amputating the ruling party. And they’re also saying the BMD should single-handedly face a decisive electoral test first before it can be fully accepted as a credible political formation and collaborator.
They maintain that the BMD is directly responsible for the mistakes committed by the BDP, and that its political vision is not different from that of the latter. By the way, when political temperatures escalate, the BMD’s detractors would revengefully tell it to “go to hell” and foil opposition cooperation with abandon. Worse yet, when it gets to the crunch, they would partner with the ruling party to dethrone BMD from its council and parliamentary seats. In fact, the pervasive belief in opposition circles that the BMD can be easily dislodged in the next election (like the BCP in 1999) should cause those who’re excited about unity think twice. Thus, even if a semblance of unity can be crafted, it won’t protect the BMD from opposition political predators who desperately want to displace and obliterate it.
Currently, sickening political chauvinism makes it difficult for the parties to amicably pick the Leader of Opposition. If it’s so difficult to address this question smoothly, how can the opposition convincingly establish and maintain a viable unity project? As long as the current negative mentality exists in abundance in some parties, opposition cooperation talks would wastefully remain a mere academic exercise until leaders with positive character are found some day.
It’s also important to recognise that the team of negotiators from BMD is backed up by some top-notch academics who will cause some mediocre negotiators from one of the parties to develop “minority phobia”. The response from such an insecure team would be to recklessly cause commotion inside and outside the negotiating room, and deliberately suggest implausible recommendations to thwart the negotiation process. Negotiators from the party in question are only used to “street politics” and would find it difficult to behave professionally.
Satanic rebellion
One of the opposition parties is still helplessly tormented by a bad curse because of its leaders’ rebellious attitude towards the almighty God. Because of the spirit of cancerous confusion that’s ravaging this party, whatever its leaders touch won’t prosper. Believe it or not, any party that tries to collaborate with them would not receive God’s blessings. Such collaboration would be tantamount to throwing away the future!
Even after hearing prophetic messages about their political problems, these leaders boastfully rebelled against God, saying their internal problems and electoral misfortunes do not necessitate divine intervention. When these leaders are asked to repent and involve God in their projects, they arrogantly disobey and annoy Him saying “religion is the opium of the masses”.
Recently, one of the leaders in this camp made a profoundly offensive statement against God’s church. Please, don’t be deceived, any political party or group of the “children of disobedience” can only function as a Sisyphus ( “a cursed fruitless labourer”).
Over-confident leaders who think opposition unity or any other great political projects can succeed through their efforts, and refuse to draw from God’s high wisdom, would prodigally fritter away their time. Today even the most powerful leaders (by human standards) won’t get genuine breakthrough if they recalcitrantly ignore God’s political interests and move in Botswana. They may remain in power but fail to turn things around.
Final advice
Before the impending opposition cooperation talks commence, the parties initiating them should ask authentic prophets of God to involve Him in these talks. The parties don’t have to go to T.B Joshua for their spiritual deliverance. God has many capable local prophets who can diligently do the assignment for Him.
Earnest prayers should also be conducted for political consultants who will facilitate the talks. God would reveal His glorious wisdom to the prophets who will guide the parties accordingly. It would be a colossal mistake if the opposition would just proceed according to their human wisdom without consulting God through His humble and obedient prophets. All leaders everywhere should understand that God’s message is always simple and clear: obedience leads to blessings, and disobedience leads to a punitive curse. Forewarned is forearmed!
