More first-timers as political underdogs seek to defy odds

The upcoming polls in October will be an acid test for veterans. The demand for newcomers is higher with the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) primaries popularly known as Bulela Ditswe having attracted about 90 aspirants who lack prior experience in elective office. Whether they will fare better against experienced candidates in the primaries is a story for another day, but the numbers of aspirants who have shown interest in both Parliament and wards show a substantial uptick in the number of inexperienced aspiring candidates.

It is not just the ruling party but the opposition outfit Botswana Congress Party (BCP) has also confirmed 54 of its parliamentary candidates showed a strong appetite for political amateurs, with around half of their candidates having never held office before. About 23 confirmed candidates out of the 54 are first-time candidates. Most of the candidates are experts in their own fields but when it comes to the dynamic game of politics, most have never sought public office before.