Africa-Press – Botswana. After his party attained second largest majority in the October 30 general elections, Botswana Congress Party (BCP) leader Mr Dumelang Saleshando has expressed his desire to fulfil the role of Leader of the Opposition in Parliament over the next five years.
Speaking to BOPA after being confirmed as the winner of the Maun North constituency on Friday, Mr Saleshando said BCP would not be proposing to go into coalition with Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), which will form a government having won the majority of parliamentary seats.
The BCP leader indicated that he called Advocate Duma Boko on Friday morning to congratulate him on his party’s victory, but would not seek to partner with the new governing party.
“The voting public have made their decision by voting for UDC with more than the stipulated threshold of 31 MPs that allows them to form a government. So I congratulate Adv. Boko and the UDC, and feel they should be given a chance to fulfil their mandate. The voter has also given BCP the mandate to be the biggest opposition block. We have a duty to perform that function as constitutionally stipulated, because democracy needs a strong opposition,” Mr Saleshando said.
Furthermore, he noted the historic nature of the 2024 polls, stating that the electoral loss of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) after 58 years in government was a long overdue change that his party embraced.
“Many did not believe that BDP would ever lose an election, at least in our lifetime. Batswana have now experienced change. President Masisi has already conceded change. It is one of the most monumental defeats in the history of Southern African politics, a party that had been dominant since independence losing by a large margin, reduced to the fringe,” Mr Saleshando said.
He was grateful to Maun North voters for giving him a resounding electoral victory in the constituency, adding that his party was proud to have dominated in the North West where it garnered seven constituencies.
He said the BCP pledged to use its dominance positively in the councils.
“We have won the three Maun constituencies, as well as Okavango East and West, Ngami and Chobe, all seven of the parliamentary seats in the north western part of the country, and we will lead the councils here.
We will work hard to develop the area,” Mr Saleshando said.
For More News And Analysis About Botswana Follow Africa-Press
