Africa-Press – Botswana. Former Botswana President Ian Khama has ridiculed the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) after it lost a weekend by-election to the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC).
A political analyst, Sello Motseta, said the by-election result was an indicator that a coalition of opposition parties could stand a chance of unseating the ruling BDP in the future.
The UDC won the Moselewapula polling district with 339 votes, marginally ahead of the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) with 334 votes.
The BDP finished last with a disappointing 110 votes.
The UDC is a tripartite coalition of the Botswana National Front (BNF), Botswana People’s Party (BPP), and BCP which was formed ahead of the 2019 general elections.
Motseta told News24, “It is, however, clear that a united opposition would pose a formidable threat to the ruling BDP.”
After the results were announced, former Botswana president and now opposition leader Ian Khama, who is believed to be in South Africa, celebrated the result in a video posted on his Facebook account.
In the video, a group of men can be seen dancing.
Later, Khama is seen joining them and they take turns beating a red T-shirt, symbolising the colours of the ruling BDP. He is seen wearing a yellow shirt, the colours of the UDC, and a yellow cap with the words Make Botswana Great Again written on it.
Khama, now a member of the breakaway Botswana Patriotic Front, congratulated the UDC on its win.
“Congratulations to the UDC for your current win in the by-election. It is apparent that Batswana supports The People’s Project.
“Your dedication, hard work and level of commitment has given us victory and hope for a better Botswana. Comrade Gift Ndanyala Tebo, this is an opportunity for you to do something good for Batswana; work hard, serve and bring change. Ke Nako [Now’s the time].”
While Khama made it a big deal, Motseta argued it was too early to conclude what the latest result meant for the political landscape.
“It is, therefore, a little premature to say with certainty what the impact of these elections will have on the overall picture in Botswana,” he said.
Coalition governments are a relatively new phenomenon in Africa. United opposition parties in countries such as Zambia, Malawi, Benin, and Kenya had to construct legislative coalitions to secure a parliamentary majority.
It is also possible in Botswana, but UDC, BPP and BCP are fractured.
“Although the opposition will be buoyed by this strong showing in council by-election results, it must be noted that the opposition UDC and BCP are currently embroiled in a fractious dispute on the nature of cooperation and governance issues within itself that is likely to derail prospects of a grand coalition ahead of next general elections,” Motseta added.
Botswana will hold general elections in 2024.
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