Opposition should learn from history

UDC leadership
UDC leadership

As the opposition bloc under the guise of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) is still smarting from a major split that shook the Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD), resulting in the birth of the BMD’s splinter party, Alliance for Progressives (AP) recently, Mmegi Staff Writer RYDER GABATHUSE and Correspondent SIKI MOTSHWARI JOHANNESS observe that even as similar events incessantly repeat themselves, politicians do not seem to learn anything from history

Events that characterised the BMD in the last few months clearly prove that history is not always the best teacher. Recent events in the opposition bloc have raised many questions as to whether the opposition will ever learn from past experiences. The confusion reigning supreme in the present opposition ranks is not a new phenomenon. It is the exact replica of the political imbroglio that engulfed the Botswana People’s Party (BPP) in the early 1960s. 

Towards Botswana’s inaugural general election of 1965, a schism amongst the big three leaders of the BPP ensued. It gave birth to three small and insignificant political formations, Philip Matante’s BPP 1, Motsamai Mpho’s BPP 2 and Kgalemang Motsete’s BPP 3.

Editor's Comment
Inspect the voters' roll!

The recent disclosure by the IEC that 2,513 registrations have been turned down due to various irregularities should prompt all Batswana to meticulously review the voters' rolls and address concerns about rejected registrations.The disparities flagged by the IEC are troubling and emphasise the significance of rigorous voter registration processes.Out of the rejected registrations, 29 individuals were disqualified due to non-existent Omang...

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