The BCP’s change of tact
Spira Tlhankane | Monday March 25, 2024 05:56
Primaries prideWith other parties still grappling with primaries, by holding primary elections much earier, the BCP believes it has a selling point as it goes at it alone in next year’s general election. The BCP, which contested under the UDC in the 2019 General Election, says it is a beacon of democracy compared to other political parties, which seem to ignore respecting the process of internal democracy through holding primary elections.
10 pledges to ‘save Botswana’The BCP, which formed an alliance with the Botswana Labour Party (BLP) late last year, launched its 10-point plan to save Botswana.
The party, which was formed in 1998, says if it wins next year’s general election, it will provide an unemployment grant of P600 per month and sustain a statutory living wage of P4, 000 per month, amongst other initiatives. According to the plan, the BCP aims for a high-wage economy that works for all, bringing back exported jobs, creating 300, 000 jobs by 2029, and sustaining a statutory living wage of P4, 000 per month.
The party also envisions a society that cares for its most vulnerable members and consequently, it plans to provide an old-age pension of P1, 500 per month, a means-tested child support grant of P300 per child, and an unemployment grant of P600 per month. In addition, the BCP calls for universal access to quality relevant education for all, with free and compulsory standard-based preschool, primary, and secondary education. It also advocates for access to quality healthcare for all, recommending health checks for everyone every two years and timely access to emergency and specialised healthcare for every Motswana.
Catching a pearl in DowAs the UDC sought to recruit Specially Elected Member of the Parliament (SEMP), Unity Dow after she left the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), the BCP stood the tallest as it managed to bring the bold woman to its fold. “I have been in negotiations with the BCP for over a year, and I didn’t make my decision lightly. I’m not here by accident. These are genuine people who share my beliefs. I have never felt more content or happy than I do now,” Dow told the media then. She said she chose the BCP because she likes its consultative approach and believes it can take Botswana forward. Dow’s 2024 candidacy was uncertain after going lime but the party decided to give her the Mochudi West constituency. Last month, the BCP even went all out and launched the former judge in Rasesa. BCP President, Dumelang Saleshando, praised Dow’s bravery, determination and remarkable record as a human rights activist. Dow seems settled as the BCP heads to the 2024 General Election.
Empowering womenBesides Dow, the BCP in January as an effort to propel more women into Parliament and close the gender gap in political participation and representation, the BCP unveiled four other female parliamentary candidates who will represent the party at this year’s General Election. Julia Chepete, a seasoned microbiologist with experience in academia, management and consultancy was unveiled for the Mogoditshane West constituency. The party spokesperson, Professor Mpho Pheko who is a social justice activist and politician was also unveiled as a parliamentary candidate for Gaborone Central constituency, the same constituency she contested in the past general election under the UDC. For Mahalapye East, One Gampone mostly known as a businesswoman was announced as a candidate. Daisy Bathusi was unveiled as a candidate for Boteti East and she is an active politician and a businesswoman who once served as the president of the BCPWL. She boldly contested for the BCP vice presidency against the Member of Parliament for Bobonong constituency, Taolo Lucas in 2021. Although she lost, Bathusi said then that she was happy with the results because it showed that members were starting to have confidence in women. Saleshando pointed out then that the five women candidates are expected to inspire even more women candidates at both Parliament and council levels.
Chief campaigner
for the general electionTo further show their readiness for the election, the BCP has also appointed its veteran and former party chairperson, Motsei Rapelana, as its campaign manager for this year’s general election. The BCP president, Saleshando, indicated earlier this year that the decision to give Rapelana this daunting task is a strategic one which signals the party’s commitment to ensuring a well-organised and impactful electoral campaign for 2024. He indicated that the announcement of Rapelana as the face of the campaign is setting the stage for a highly anticipated political contest. “Rapelana’s expertise and experience are expected to contribute significantly to the BCP’s campaign strategy and overall performance in the upcoming elections. The party aims to leverage her skills to engage with voters effectively and convey its vision for the future of Botswana,” Saleshando revealed. He added that the BCP’s proactive approach to the 2024 General Election signals a determination to mobilise support and effectively communicate the party’s plans to voters across Botswana.
The start of manifesto chaptersLate last month, the BCP launched a manifesto chapter for an ‘Economy that works for all’, outlining its great visions and promises for the nation’s future. The BCP indicated that their manifesto for the 2024 elections is situated around ‘An economy that works for us all’ and wishes to see every Motswana able to sustain their lives. The party indicated that it wants to reclaim the exported jobs and create over 100, 000s jobs. When the BCP unveiled their plan for land and housing chapter, the party indicated that they have a plan to ensure equitable access to land and the benefits it generates to all citizens. The BCP pointed out that Botswana’s land is sufficient to meet everyone’s basic needs and certainly not enough for everyone’s greed. The BCP also launched their plan to ensure that children are protected and women are empowered and supported, especially single mothers. “Women and children are a vulnerable community and our society has somehow moved up the scales of modernity while sacrificing them to unemployment and violence. Consequently, many young people are lost to drugs and women lost to depression,” Saleshando said recently.
Burying old hatchets
For a long time after its exit from the UDC, the BCP took every chance to throw punches at the coalition and this was even worsened by the long-simmering tensions between the BCP president, Saleshando and the Botswana National Front (BNF) leader, Duma Boko, who is also the UDC president. From the onset, opposition problems started to show when a feud bubbled up between Boko and Saleshando as the two leaders could not agree on governance issues within the UDC. The BCP among their reasons for leaving the UDC project were that there is no democracy and that the leader of the coalition, Boko, had transformed the UDC into his personalised property. They felt that there is poor governance and no internal democracy within the coalition and that the BNF has been made to become a natural leader of the UDC. With Boko having been at the helm of the coalition for more than a decade without the coalition ever holding an elective congress, not even once, the BCP felt Boko had led for too long and therefore, tends to be authoritarian. The BCP recently changed their game as they focused less on their failed relationship with the UDC and looked towards tackling the common enemy, being the BDP. With cooperation talks failing after the withdrawal of the then potential partner, the Alliance for Progressives (AP), the BCP let it go and instead forged an alliance with the Botswana Labour Party (BLP).
Temporary ceasefireWhile it is now clear that the BCP will go at it alone in the 2024 General Election, it has aligned with the UDC on political party funding and the fight against alleged rigging. As fear of ‘rigging’ torments the opposition bloc ahead of the 2024 General Election, for the first time ever, the divided parties have united against these missions. BCP secretary-general, Goretetse Kekgonegile, recently said as much as they are ‘united’ for this mission, currently, there is no consent from members to form an alliance. He emphasised that they are different political parties which get mandates from the membership.