By-elections a test for opposition strength
Innocent Selatlhwa | Monday December 20, 2021 06:00
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) set a date for May end to hold by elections, but that day would not come, thanks to COVID-19. It was mid April when the nation was put on six months State of Emergency that President Mokgweetsi Masisi suspended the elections. Twenty-two months later, 11 more seats remain vacant. December 18 is the day set to fill 11 of the 13 empty seats. For the past many years, different opposition cooperation models were tried by the opposition.
The best thus far has been the umbrella model. In 2014, the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) was slammed for ditching partner parties, and was punished at the elections. Well, the opposition ‘was punished for not uniting’. BCP came on board in 2019, yet again the opposition could not join hands. New kids on the block, the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) and Alliance for Progressives (AP) would not stand under the umbrella for various reasons. Towards 2024, the UDC has joined forces with AP and BPF in by-elections. The question is, will opposition unity work this time around? While UDC, AP and BPF have agreed to work together, the unity is being put to test.
According to the MoU signed by the three parties last year, one of the first things in their trilateral agreement was that they would have one ticket for the by-election. However, there are some disputed wards which led to the BPF and UDC going against each other in Ga-Molopo ward (Goodhope-Mabule constituency) and Lerolwane ward (Mmathethe-Molapowabojang constituency). In Metsimotlhabe, while the AP was selected to represent opposition parties, a disgruntled Botswana Congress Party (BCP) member decided to stand independently. The BDP will contest in all the 11 wards, UDC in eight wards, BPF in three wards, AP in two wards, Botswana Movement for Democracy in one ward while five independent candidates will contest in four wards in the elections billed for December 18, 2021.
With COVID-19 cases on the rise yet again, the ruling party BDP last week suspended political activities. The party cancelled candidates launch while the Opposition Cooperation Forum parties hosted launches and rallies over the weekend. This led to some thinking elections could be postponed. The IEC has since said the elections will continue and that they will be held with strict adherence to COVID-19 regulations. “We are very much aware of the rising cases and have prepared to hold elections under the circumstances. We will be extra cautious and strict with the protocols.
We will have a minimum number of people at the polling station and also ensure regular fumigation throughout the day,” she said.XX (who is this?)