The opposition must rise to the occasion

Editor | Friday August 6, 2010 00:00

The Botswana Congress Party (BCP), which has fielded a candidate, will enjoy the combined support of all the major opposition parties - the Botswana National Front (BNF), the Botswana Peoples Party (BPP) and the Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD).

Many eyes will be on the BCP to see how it tackles the challenge of overcoming the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), a party that has the benefit of incumbency in its historical stronghold.

In our view, this presents a demanding challenge for the collective opposition. We have always maintained that opposition cooperation is a worthwhile exercise if democracy is to be entrenched in our country. To that end, we have not only been keen observers but have always given our full support to efforts aimed at the cooperation of opposition parties.

We have always held that the various opposition parties should do everything to cast their differences aside and display the necessary maturity in order to obtain a feasible cooperation model that can offer Batswana an alternative.

A meaningful counterweight to the BDP is necessary because the continued de facto one-party-state that Botswana has become is undesirable both for the development of this country. Every country can maximise its potential only when alternative ideas are allowed and have the platform to be tried.

Only a viablke alternative can offer the BDP the competition that it gravely needs for its own good and most importantly for the good of this country. It is for this reason that we are unapologetic supporters of opposition cooperation.

However, we are not unconditional fanatics of the opposition. We will criticise - even censure it - whenever it is necessary. This brings us to the by-election in Tonota North. This is not the first time the opposition, especially the BNF and the BCP, will work as comrades-in-arms. The two successfully defended Gaborone West North when they fielded Otsweletse Moupo of the BNF nearly 10 years ago. For Tonota North now, there is the added value of the BMD which, its leadership being made up mainly of former Domkrag dissidents should make the task even more challenging but potentially even more rewarding.

It is our hope that this by-election will be a precursor to greater unity of the opposition in future. Batswana, the majority of whom want to see the opposition united, or at least become a viable alternative to BDP rule, are serious about this. Hence we look beyond this extra seat!

                                                                      Today's thought                                                  'Vigilance is the price of democracy.'

                                                                   - Gregory Rooker