Votes for sale: Moselewapula by-election
Chakalisa Dube | Tuesday August 2, 2022 06:00
UDC’s Gift Tebo won the by-election, beating BCP's fielded candidate Mmoloki Wairi, while the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) settled for Ngwisiwa Ntogwa who came third.
Tebo managed 339 votes, five votes more than Wairi's 334. Ntogwa attracted an underwhelming 110 votes. The decision to buy votes was influenced by one major factor.
Moments after the polling stations opened, voters gave parties a demand, which they said if not met, they will not vote. On the ground, it was clear that they wanted the BCP or the UDC to win, but they made it clear that they wanted to be rewarded for their votes. In short, their votes were being sold to the highest bidder.
The voters demanded money between P150 and P200 (per vote) depending on negotiations (with the parties). In rare instances, they demanded P50 per vote. Several voters brandished their cards and openly declared that they will only vote if there is a guarantee that they will be paid.
After the ultimatum, activists from both opposition parties were then positioned to induce and facilitate payment for voters. There were reports that one of the legislators, who was driving a black-tinted SUV, was coordinating payments for those who voted for UDC.
Voters headed to the SUV immediately after casting their votes as there were strong suggestions that they were going to get rewards (for the votes). It appeared the coalition had enough budget allocated for the by-election.
Most of the BCP funds were mostly obtained from individual activists or sympathisers by those charged with facilitating payments to the voters. There was a swelling opinion that the BCP fell short of funds which is why it did not triumph. Those who voted for the UDC and BCP had to take pictures as evidence before their respective payments were facilitated.
The BDP, which has often been accused of using the vote-buying strategy to attract voters, was not active on the ground. The ruling party appeared to have surrendered to losing the ward. Despite convincing suggestions on the ground that vote-buying was flagrant at the by-election, UDC’s Tebo maintained a contrary position. “I believe I won on account of hard work. I am also well-known in the ward.
Our opponents are the ones who bought votes. I have been part of the ward development committee and have supported many development projects. They (his opponents) tried to tarnish my name by peddling false stories about me, but I prevailed because the people know what I am capable of,” he said. BCP campaign manager for the by-election Imphimteus Mabutho also denied that the BCP bought votes. “If some of us (BCP members) bought votes, they did so outside my knowledge as the campaign manager. One would think that the UDC had a budget for the elections.
They had someone who was given a specific task of recruiting and paying voters.
I believe that money won the elections,” Mabutho said. He added: “We should discourage vote buying and selling. It is not good for democracy. Some voters demanded that we pay them in exchange for their votes. Often, they wanted P200 per head. I turned down all their proposals.” Mabutho said a majority of those who demanded money were those who were trafficked into the ward.
According to him, they were trafficked from as far as Natale and Makobo. Leading up to the elections, both the BCP and UDC were under pressure. The BCP needed a win but failed to demystify the notion that it is not a viable entity outside of the UDC.
The by-election also offered another opportunity for the BCP and Alliance for Progressives (AP) to test their strength after the two flattered to deceive at a by-election in Bophirima. It is widely thought that the BCP will dump the UDC in favour of a working relationship with the AP at the 2024 general election. On the other hand, the UDC has been selling the ‘UDC or nothing’ narrative.
A win for the UDC has to some extent consolidated the position of those who believe that the BCP and AP combination cannot yield good results going forward. It was always going to be hard for the BDP.
There were swelling opinions that Ntogwa is hard to sell. Even some ruling party diehards were not convinced that he would triumph.