Tomorrow�s election more of the same

First things first. The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) will emerge as the winner in the general elections to be held tomorrow. The contest to watch will be the one between the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) and the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) for second position. While the combined number of votes for the two opposition parties might be at par with that of the BDP the ruling party will win the majority of parliamentary seats with a convincing margin. The BDP could win up to 37 seats.

Put differently, the pattern that started forming during the 1999 elections following the breakaway of Botswana Congress Party (BCP) from the Botswana National Front (BNF), will be maintained this year. There is nothing to suggest that there will be a deviation inspite of the change in the political landscape occasioned by the formation of the UDC.