In this paper we examine the dynamics behind the poor return posted by the opposition BNF and the good showing by the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) in the just ended elections. We start by looking at the BNF situation in the light of the party's history in elections. The leadership of BNF president Otsweletse Moupo from 2001 to date is also placed under the microscope. Thereafter, we suggest a way through which the party can recover and move forward. We end the piece by gazing into the political 'crystal ball' of the next five years leading to the 2014 general election.
There is a view in some quarters that the BNF's pathetic performance in the elections last week was a result of leadership crisis that afflicted the party in the past 12 months or so. This led to expulsion of some senior party members and depriving some primary election winners their victory, and shoveling candidates preferred by the leadership down the throats of party members in the affected constituencies. As a result court cases ensued and in a number of constituencies, primarily in Gaborone, the party only fielded candidates at the last minute. We do agree that this was a factor in election results but only to a limited extent. As far was we are concerned, the BNF tragedy can be traced to 2006 when the party withdrew from talks on unity or cooperation with other opposition parties. This might have led to a backlash by the electorate to the 'offending' party.
