The Opposition Is Doing Well

| Monday October 6, 2014 06:59

It was a fanfare filled spectacle that ran from Saturday morning in the streets of Gaborone until 10pm, with the multitudes staying on to the end. The turn out by the crowd was simply overwhelming, perhaps reminiscent of the 1994  BNF Manifesto launch by the late Dr Kenneth Koma, in terms of fanfare and crowd response. To see the cloud of crowd seated in the four marquee tents as early as 2pm, as well as the sophistication with which the event was coordinated, was impressive indeed.

 The UDC also showcased all their council, MP candidates who will be standing all over the country. Posters of their various MP candidates across Botswana could also be seen decorating the  Chris Hani freedom square.

For the first time in history, the image of a capable opposition as an alternative government was presented. Another impressive and colourful showing by a second opposition party, the Botswana Congress Party was also put on. The BCP launched their Presidential bus tour, currently travelling around over 80 villages to showcase the Party and its leader, Dumelang Saleshando as the next President of the Republic. The BCP bus tour has created fanfare during the run up to October 24. On Saturday, the UDC also launched their Presidential bus tour, decorated with a giant poster of Duma Boko, and written, Ha e Duma, Re a Dumalana”. The U.S embassy also came to the rescue of our democracy this time around, sponsoring national radio debates by all parliamentary candidates. Even though the ruling party of President Ian Khama snubbed the initiative and chose to sponsor its own debates on another private radio station, it was a very welcome initiative by America, as a friend of Botswana. 

However, the ruling Party with its tight control of state media and government resources is still miles ahead when it comes to political party resources. The President can still take a huge military aircraft, or any government fleet and use them for Party activities. There is no law that bars the President from such abuse of power; in fact when he recently took a BDP campaign team on an army aircraft around three constituencies, he was defended by both the army and his spokesman, Jeff Ramsay as having acted completely within the confines law.