What was perhaps sweetest for the BDP is that they won Kgalagadi North constituency and Marulamantsi ward, which were in the hands of the opposition Botswana National Front (BNF). The weekend results were obviously a major setback to the opposition. But the party hit hardest is the BNF. It is the biggest loser for surrendering a council seat and a constituency to its chief nemesis, the ruling party. The results of the weekend continues a series of bad runs for BNF in by-elections. It lost the Mabutsane council ward it won in the 2004 general elections. Just after the special congress in Molepolole, BNF fared badly in Mmopane by-election which was won by the opposition Botswana Congress Party (BCP). Of course the BNF made some gains in Mokwena and Bodibeng/Bothatlogo council wards in the weekend by-elections but these are negligible. The outcome should be worrying to BNF supporters and all those who believe in a strong opposition. We are not too sure if the continuous losses are a concern to the current BNF leaders.
If BNF was a business where progress is measured in profits and losses, certainly there would have been vigorous soul searching and head-scratching. The result would be the sacking or resignation of the Chief Executive Officer because of failure to bring net profits to the business. But Otsweletse Moupo, the BNF president, is not wired this way. For him and his organisation, he can lose party primary elections and behave as if it is business as usual. He leads the BNF into successive losses including wards and a constituency the party held and he behaves as if nothing has happened. Even football coaches have the decency to bow out and take responsibility when they fail in their mandate. Is this difficult for BNF comrades to do? The BNF is not the only loser in the weekend by-elections. Even the alliance of BCP, BAM and NDF has not produced much. Granted, they gained ground in Marulamantsi but they failed to take advantage of a less united BDP in Palapye and performed disastrously in Bodibeng and Serowe. Given the results of the weekend, we can safely say the opposition has been rejected by the people and we think we know why. The opposition parties appear fractious and seem not to know what they are doing except to engage in an infantile race against each other to be number two to the BDP. On the other hand, the BDP seems to be doing well because it manages its conflicts and puts a credible sense of unity and focus.Until the opposition realises their folly, they will never dupe anyone. This disasters in the opposition are happening at a time when a hugely popular figure such as Ian Khama is entering the stage. If they continue with their infantile antics, the BDP will pulverise them and our democracy will be poorer.
Today's Thought
The virtue of achievement is victory over oneself. Those who know this
can never know defeat.
- Unknown
