Seitiso defends move to UDC amidst opportunism claims
Monday, July 08, 2024 | 640 Views |
More than a month ago, Seitiso along with seven others were given the nod to contest in the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) primaries in the Nata-Gweta constituency after meeting all the requirements. The BDP primaries due in less than two weeks are meant to book candidacy for this year’s general election. However, Seitiso ditched the BDP unexpectedly and joined the Botswana National Front (BNF) who are affiliated to the UDC. There have been suggestions that his move was to some extent fuelled by the fact that he was promised free candidacy at the general election by the coalition. “I have always been open about my desire to represent the people of Nata-Gweta in Parliament.
After so much introspection I felt that I could represent them better when I was in the opposition. The UDC is much more appealing than the ruling party in terms of its plans to address the plight of Batswana and the people of Nata-Gweta,” Seitiso said. He added, “I also increasingly felt unwanted in the BDP which is why I decided to quit. It wasn't about opportunism.” Before ditching the BDP, Seitiso and other aspiring primary election candidates had written to the party leadership complaining about some influential BDP figures in the constituency who they accused of openly campaigning for President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s blue-eyed boy, Dr Benjamin Radihepi. There was also mounting speculation that the party was planning to vet out Seitiso, following complaints against him by some activists in the constituency who are widely viewed to be pro-Radihepi. Until Seitiso came on board, the UDC was struggling to find a suitable candidate for Nata-Gweta.
The constituency was initially allocated to the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF). That was before the party chose to bolt out of the opposition coalition. Seitiso joined the UDC just four months before the general election something which some observers say means that he might not have enough time to sell himself to the voters and familiarise himself with the dynamics in the UDC. But he remains confident that he will make a statement at the general elections. “The people of Nata-Gweta know what I am capable of. I have actively participated in so many community building or development initiatives in the constituency in recent years. I believe that this will be a key factor in the general election. The timing of my defection will not be a factor. My attributes will be my competitive advantage,” he said. Seitiso is also of the view that the timing of his defection is not bad because he joined the UDC before the 2024 General Election campaigns could heat up. Despite his confidence, he will have to do more to sway voters to his side. The UDC fared badly in the constituency in 2019. The coalition only managed 1,142 votes, while the BPF emerged second with 3,186 votes. The BDP won the constituency by 4,754 votes.
In fact, early election results in some areas across the country, speak to large voter turnout which suggests that voters crowded at polling stations to decide appropriately. The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) revealed that 80% of the 1,037,684 people who had registered to vote turned up to exercise their right.It’s unfortunate that at the time of cobbling this editorial comment, results had just started trickling in. We recognise that...