What has 2011 got in store for political parties?

LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI
Correspondent | Friday January 21, 2011 00:00

Just a few months after the 2009 general elections, there were so many things that happened and helped change the political landscape of the nation.

Who would have predicted that one of Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) sons, Botsalo Ntuane, would become Leader of Opposition by the end of last year?  The story of the year was no doubt the birth of the Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD), after the BDP split.  This was for the first time that BDP faced such a split as some of its parliamentarians defected to the new party.

But the BDP was able to win back two of its former Members of Parliament (MPs) in  Phillip Makgalemele and Patrick Masimolole.  This was the only way that the BDP managed to slow down the BMD's phenomenal growth. 

Had the two legislators not rejoined the BDP, there was every likelihood that more BDP MPs would have crossed the floor to the BMD.  The ruling BDP stunned every critic when it staged another coup by snatching Botswana National Front (BNF) MP for South East North, Olebile Gaborone.  This was also history to see an opposition legislator defecting to the BDP.  In the past some MPs who broke away from the BNF, formed their won party - the Botswana Congress Party (BCP).

Last year the BNF held a congress where a new leadership was elected. As is always the case with the BNF, there was acrimony before the congress was held.  Contrary to expectations the congress went peacefully and a new central committee was elected.

The BCP also held a congress where former publicity secretary Dumelang Saleshando took over from his father, Gil Saleshando as the party president.  But what does 2011 have in store for the political parties? Focus this year will be  on the BDP and BMD.  Another issue which will be in the spotlight will be the proposed opposition unity.  Will it work this time around?  Will the BNF be able to work with the BCP and BMD?

For the BDP the most important event on the party calendar this year will be the congress, which will be held in July at which a new executive committee will be elected. It remains to be seen whether this will be a repeat of the disastrous 2009 Kanye congress where all hell broke loose. 

Will the BDP finally find peace after the formation of the BMD or will more BDP members defect to the new party? 

This will depend on how this year's congress is conducted.  If BDP president Ian Khama continues to flex his muscles, there will be more trouble for his party.  As a democrat Khama must learn to respect the views of those who do not agree with him.  When somebody differs with you as a leader, it has nothing to do with indiscipline. 

The BDP will also be taking stock of itself, after some of its members left for BMD.  Of course the BDP is eager to win back some of its former members from BMD. Another important event on the BDP calendar will be the celebration of the party's 49th anniversary.  With just one year short of reaching half a century, the BDP will have to take stock of itself.    

As for the BMD, the honeymoon is over.  It is high time the party defined its policies.  For example the BMD should make their stand clear on the Kgatleng extra-judicial floggings and on the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR) issue.   Remember that BMD interim publicity secretary Sidney Pilane was the one who was representing the government during the CKGR case.  Pilane was also representing his Kgosi kgolo Kgafela in the case in which the controversial chief is accused  of flogging people in Kgatleng. 

Many people would like to know the BMD's stance as opposed to that of the BDP.  One newspaper once quoted Pilane as saying there was 'nothing wrong with the BDP' and that the only problem was Khama. BMD will also be holding its first congress, where an executive committee will be elected.   For the BMD there is still much that needs to be done.  Although the party commands a significant following in the urban areas, BMD should show Batswana that it does not appeal only to the urbanites.  Even in the urban centers, it is unclear which constituency is the BMD's stronghold.

Although it intends to topple BDP during the 2014 general election, this is not going to be a walk in the park.  BMD will learn from the old  opposition parties that it is no easy task to remove BDP from power. In fact, BMD will have to work hard to win at least five constituencies during the 2014 general elections.

There is still more spade work to be done for BMD instead of rhetoric.  We know that they do not want Khama but that alone can never be your triumph card in the rural areas.   As for the BNF, the party leadership would have to concentrate on re-building the movement.  The performance of the BNF was not impressive during the 2009 general elections.  BNF president Duma Boko will have to work hard to win back disgruntled party members.

It is clear that the BNF is still divided.  This is evidenced by letters in the newspapers in which party members were attacking one another. Boko will have to bring to an end the inner party fights. 

And there is the proposed opposition party unity.  Can it work this time around?  Will the opposition contest the 2014 general elections as a united force?  Well it will all depend on the sincerity and political will of the alliance party leaders.