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 The motorcade was undoubtedly bigger than that of businessman Robert Masitara, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) candidate for the by-election. BDP loyalists who attended the launch of Masitara dismiss the number of cars as a political gimmick. They say the opposition mobilised forces from outside Gaborone and the length of the motorcade does not necessarily translate into votes. They said they printed 5,000 t-shirts with the portrait of Masitara and all of them were sold.
The Masitara launch, which was skipped by some BDP bigwigs like secretary general, Daniel Kwelagobe and chairman Ian Khama started on a moderate note. The organisation was not good and the motorcade started about two hours late. Some people at the starting point near Phillip Moshotlhe primary school were left stranded, probably because cars were few or those who attended were many. However, those left behind never gave up. They patiently waited till some cars came to fetch them. Prior to the commencement, the event would have been confused for the Coca-Cola football final. The Sunday soccer that is usually being played near the primary school must have received the largest spectatorship ever yesterday. Dressed in red, black and white, BDP activists had the football game as their curtain raiser because they were behind schedule. They watched the match to the end and when the loud speaker announced the arrival of the police escort, they all ran towards the parked cars because it was clear that there was a shortage. It was only the old and the fat who could not make it, but they were later picked up. As they ran to the cars, one of the Sunday soccer team fans shouted at them: “Le bone sepoko sa ga Rantao se seka sa lo diga mo tseleng. (Watch out for Rantao’s ghost, you might overturn),” he said as he wiped Chibuku foam off his unkempt moustache. Nobody seemed to have had time for the man though. The motorcade snaked across the constituency, with mixed reception from passers-by and spectators. The crowd then proceeded to the school for lunch. The rally was not the expected glitter and glamour associated with Masitara a the flamboyant tycoon, politician and philanthropists. At the launch, Masitara must have broken the national record of politicians addressing the rallies. He did not even speak for more than five, may be because of the confession that he is not a politician.
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