Boko upped the ante during the launch of the UDC candidate for the Mapoka-Nlaphkwane by-election, Nebulani Lenyatso over the past weekend. During the launch, an animated Boko told attendees that it was only a matter of time before the AP joins the UDC.
Boko said: “I am glad to say that some of our former partners who had chosen the wrong route are returning to the UDC. The AP is returning to the UDC and we are telling them that their seats are where they left them.” The UDC leader added that the return of the AP to the UDC is very significant as it could lead to the removal of the BDP from power in the 2024 General Election.
The BCP, AP and BLP are currently locked in a stalemate over the sharing of constituencies and the model of cooperation amongst others. Boko’s statements were meant to ferment more confusion in the coalition that the BCP, AP and BLP want to strike, as per some observers.
Talks between the parties are currently hanging by a thread and can be resuscitated by the presidents of the three parties during a further round of talks slated for today. Following the withdrawal of the AP from the talks, rumours have swirled that the AP is motivated by political opportunism to withdraw from the negotiations.
It is already in the public domain that the BCP, AP and BLP are saying that their relations are premised on democratic governance, the defining features of which are – constitutionalism and rule of law, human rights, free and fair democratic elections, competent government, accountability, transparency and popular participation.
However, recent developments within the political holy trinity show that their relationship is on a knife edge and like what some analysts are saying, Boko’s statement that the AP is about to rejoin the UDC was a well calculated move to muddy the water amongst the BCP, AP and BLP. According to political experts, political opportunism refers to the attempt to maintain political support, or to increase political influence possibly in a way which disregards relevant ethical or political principles. Speaking of opportunism, political analyst at the University of Botswana (UB), Adam Mfundisi said that Botswana politics is dominated by unprincipled and opportunistic politicians. As such, he noted, it is not surprising that Boko is taking advantage of the tumultuous situation in the BCP, AP and BLP.
“Politicians of Botswana are highly motivated by personal interests rather than the collective good. For any coalition of political parties to succeed, all participating parties must be faithful, honest, focused, have integrity, ethical and accountable. Political narcissism is afflicting opposition politics in Botswana as reflected through self-aggrandisement and interests.
Pathological lying by these politicians has become a political culture,” Mfundisi opines. The revelation by Boko that the AP is about to join the UDC is worrisome and if that happens in future, voters are likely to lose faith and trust in the AP, says Mfundisi. “The AP and BCP leadership have been vocal and persistent in accusing the UDC and its leadership of amongst others autocratic, unethical, undemocratic and unaccountable behaviour.
To somersault on these basic principles and values epitomises political opportunism and immoral behaviour,” Mfundisi stated. “Our politics is polluted by toxic leadership motivated by parochial self interests and entitlement. Some AP leaders interpret the recent success of the UDC in by-elections as a reason to rejoin it for political expediency. Their arguments are that they have more prospects for political office in the UDC rather than in coalition with the BCP and BLP. The jury is still out there to affirm the veracity of their political gamble.”
