By-elections a test for opposition strength

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) set a date for May end to hold by elections, but that day would not come, thanks to COVID-19. It was mid April when the nation was put on six months State of Emergency that President Mokgweetsi Masisi suspended the elections. Twenty-two months later, 11 more seats remain vacant. December 18 is the day set to fill 11 of the 13 empty seats. For the past many years, different opposition cooperation models were tried by the opposition.

The best thus far has been the umbrella model. In 2014, the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) was slammed for ditching partner parties, and was punished at the elections. Well, the opposition ‘was punished for not uniting’. BCP came on board in 2019, yet again the opposition could not join hands. New kids on the block, the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) and Alliance for Progressives (AP) would not stand under the umbrella for various reasons. Towards 2024, the UDC has joined forces with AP and BPF in by-elections. The question is, will opposition unity work this time around? While UDC, AP and BPF have agreed to work together, the unity is being put to test.