Race for BDP presidency intensifies
Chakalisa Dube | Friday February 5, 2016 16:31
Constitutionally, Masisi as the country’s vice president, will take over from Ian Khama as the President on April 1, 2018. This is an appointment for a period of just over a year, until the country goes to the general elections to elect a new government and a president. But as has happened before, the ruling party, can hold a special congress to decide who takes the party to the general elections in case the incumbent is not the party president.
In the past, the one sitting in the country’s presidency seat was endorsed unchallenged. But this is a different BDP, it is unlikely that Masisi will go to the 2017 elective congress unchallenged.
Indications are that some members want to challenge Masisi because they believe that the party is poorly run under the current regime which is often labelled ‘inexperienced’. The VP himself has issued a stern warning that those who want to challenge him will be in for a tough time. Masisi further warns that those who want to challenge him are ill advised. Although Masisi is said to have many shortcomings, standing against him may prove to be a tall order to his party mates. Below Mmegi assesses bids of Masisi’s challengers.
Boyce Sebetela
The former Palapye MP is now a section manager at Debswana. He is also a former minister.
He resigned from his position as MP in 2007, in the middle of his second successive term. Sebetela has been in the political wilderness for a very long time and has lost touch with the grassroots according to some political pundits. This might greatly derail his bid. He also left the party at a time when the opposition Botswana Congress Party (BCP) was making inroads, which some may consider an act of betrayal and might work against him. Sebetela is said to be among those who strongly believe that the party is headed in the wrong direction and wants to save it.
Robert Masitara
Masitara has publicly expressed a desire to challenge for the presidency but his dream to be president appears more unrealistic. He is relatively unpopular within the BDP structures. Some even consider him an outcast because of his explosive nature. Having failed to win re-election to Parliament, Masitara may largely be viewed as a failure even against someone who is not considered a rising star like Masisi. His dream to be the next president may prove elusive.
Tshekedi Khama
While he is viewed as a star and independent-minded character within party circles, he may not get the nod to be elected president. Tshekedi may be viewed largely in the context of his elder brother, Ian Khama, who many think has thrown the BDP into shambles.
Another factor is that there is a growing perception that the Khama family runs the country, which may influence the BDP faithful from going for TK as Tshekedi is affectionately known. The growing perception that all the country’s presidents are from one region (Central) might also work against Tshekedi.
Nonofo Molefhi
Molefhi commands a lot of respect in the party and is considered to be the voice of reason in the BDP. However, the BDP is facing a very militant opposition, which at times requires one to take it head on, a characteristic some within the BDP say Molefhi lacks. Masisi is highly stubborn and possesses sheer political will to tackle marauding opposition young turks.
Jacob Nkate
Just like Sebetela, Nkate who has been Botswana’s envoy to Japan, has been in the political wilderness for some time.
For this reason he may struggle to adapt against Masisi who is already hard on the ground campaigning. His other disadvantage is that he was once deeply involved in intense BDP internal wars.
Some may still perceive him to be the old Nkate who embraces factionalism while those whom he wronged in the past may still be holding grudges against him. Again, Nkate was one to strongly fight for what he believed in, without compromise. As a faction leader then, he left a lot of people heartbroken and he may have to do a lot of work for the system to accept him back.
Tebelelo Seretse
Seretse has fought many political battles. She won some and emerged bruised in others. She comes across as an ambitious hardworking person. However in her most recent political battles she lost. This has created a perception that Seretse is a political reject. The other stumbling block for Seretse is that it appears as if the BDP is not yet ready to embrace a woman president.
Ideal candidate
Political analyst Leonard Sesa, who is also a lecturer at the University of Botswana (UB), believes that the ideal person to take over as a presidential candidate for the ruling party is someone who knows the party very well and not aligned to any faction. According to him, the BDP need to clean its image. Sesa also doubts that the party may bring in a new person other than Masisi to challenge for the presidency. “They may decide to do with Masisi at the general elections because they may find it difficult to sell a new presidential candidate to the nation just prior to the elections,” he said.
Sesa also believes that the notion that Masisi is inexperienced may not work. “It has been proven with the BDP that for someone to be president he doesn’t need much experience. President Ian Khama is a good example.”