Botswana deserves ideal political leaders

The Monitor Editor | Tuesday September 20, 2022 06:00

This remains to be seen, particularly as opposite unity has been seeing its ups and downs. In 2012, three opposition parties namely the Botswana National Front (BNF), the Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD), and the Botswana National Front (BNF) formed a political alliance under the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC). The Botswana Congress Party (BCP) would, after rebuffs, join the coalition in 2017.

The promise made by the coalition to its supporters and the nation at large was that through a united opposition, they would be able to unseat the ruling party, which through their campaigns and contributions in Parliament have labelled the administration as a corrupt government. The coalition at some point in time gained momentum and the Promised Land seemed near, but then major fights erupted within the UDC, trickling down to individual political parties. Leaders of opposition parties started attacking one another and, of course, supporters joined in hurling insults at one another.

The misunderstanding led to the BCP president, Dumelang Saleshando losing his post as Leader of Opposition to a member of his party, Member of Parliament for Selebi-Phikwe West Dithapelo Keorapetse, who in retaliation was later suspended from the party. The ongoing bickering has put the coalition, which was often referred to as ‘the people’s project’, in limbo with ultimatums being thrown around.

The situation right now is indeed chaotic and threats seem to have become the order of the day. The UDC president who is also the president of the BNF, Duma Boko recently announced that the BCP members of Parliament (MP) and councillors have until September 26 to submit letters confirming their interest to stand for the 2024 General Elections under the UDC ticket. In the meantime, the BCP has instructed its members to ignore the directive. This has become a major headache for all parties concerned as is equally unsettling to follow all the different parties that form the UDC.

While some members have decided to be loyal to their parties, there are those who are on the proverbial fence and are unsure which route to take! A question that some supporters are asking themselves is, “How different are their leaders are from those in power when they seem to fail to take a seat at one table and come to an agreement even before they taste state power? What then once power is in their hands?” The expression that politics is a dirty game seems to rear its ugly head as even the new-kid-on-the-bloc(k), the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) has its members at each other’s throats.

Are our leaders standing for political office because they want to develop our country and represent us well or is it all about their interests? This is now the question that many Batswana are asking themselves. Power, like a drug, is intoxicating. Unchecked, it will serve no more than their political wiles. Our country deserves ideal political leaders who understand their mandate, not power-hungry individuals who are in it for their self-serving interests!