Opposition up the campaign
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Friday September 19, 2014 16:04
At first it was the president of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) Duma Boko who was spotted on a helicopter ride with his Hollywood friend Rick Yune to check out party members in far off places such as Kgalagadi.
UDC has from the word go put up the most desired and expensive looking branding and campaign, both on the streets and on-line media.
This week, the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) unveiled the presidential bus tour, which its leader Dumelang Saleshando will use to tour countrywide.
Mmegi investigations have established that the BCP has spent over P20,000 for branding the bus and is likely going to spend over P300,000 to pay for it. This money is supposed to include fuel, accommodation, food and payment for those who will be providing security for Saleshando.
Mmegi has learnt that BCP is likely going to hire a helicopter two days before elections’ day as their strategy to monitor other areas easily.
BCP is alleged to have raised campaign money through their friends who own businesses and some people were asked to donate P20,000 each for the party.
During the press briefing on Monday, Saleshando said the tour shall be characterised by stop over’s in many areas with different activities peculiar to specific population.
“The tour is expected to cover more than 84 villages and towns with a total distance of an estimated 4,971 kilometres from September 20, 2014 and ending in a key rally on October 18 – a few days before election day. We did not buy it but we hired it,” said Saleshando. However, Saleshando said he does not discuss any of their party strategy and about the cost or the owner of the bus.
Earlier this year, the party employed national campaign manager, Thapelo Ndlovu to assist them on election logistics.
The UDC was not to be left behind, as Botswana National Front veteran and secretary general, Tapiso Kgosikoma, was roped in as an elections campaign manager. He told Mmegi that they would soon introduce a call centre to engage candidates, volunteers and voters 24/7. Kgosikoma revealed that the UDC vice president Ndaba Gaolathe is still working on its logistics.
“We do not have funds but our campaigns are different from the old ones. The campaigns are coordinated in two phases, which include the local one that involves small structures, and national one. The national phase is the one which is coordinated by UDC executive committee,” Kgosikoma said.
He said the UDC call centre would be used to reach out to their members and for the members to inform them about any problems they are facing.
The financially oiled machine of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), which long handed all the 57 constituencies with campaign vehicles and marketing materials, also runs a call centre.
The BDP secretary general, Mpho Balopi said their call centre is simply for them to be able to reach their members as and when needed.
“We are a party that believes in members participating in its initiatives and to express their views. The call centre allows them to be heard.
We have always had a call centre to improve our coordination activities during times of primary and general elections. Our target is all our party members. We need them to be able to reach out to us on any matter that may be of concern to them,” Balopi said.