Trying times for political parties

With only a few months before the country goes to the polls, Botswanas political parties are yet to start their campaigns in earnest with the majority of them gripped by political brouhaha that continues to steal peace from their ranks. Mmegi Staff Writers RYDER GABATHUSE & LEBOGANG MOSIKARE report that in the exception of the new-kid-on-the-political-block, Alliance for Progressives (AP), older parties, ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), tri-party coalition Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) and its former partner Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD), have lately been grappling with factionalism

FRANCISTOWN: Interestingly, all the parties have held their primary elections last year ahead of time in an endeavour to have sufficient time to lead their campaigns ahead of the General Election. In Botswana’s political system, it is the state President who issues a writ of the general elections and that means he is the custodian of the date of the elections.

Although the President leads his party in contesting for the elections, he and his party are advantaged in knowing at least when such elections will be held.

Editor's Comment
Don't let FMD outbreak drag on

Acting Agriculture Minister, Edwin Dikoloti, is right in saying opening an export-ready facility whilst Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is still spreading would risk getting the whole country blacklisted before a single carcass leaves the door.A ban like that would break the already stressed nation. So, the postponement, painful as it is, is the right thing to do. The local economy is being squeezed from both ends. FMD has already slammed the door...

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