Of primary election delays and independent candidancy

Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday February 12, 2024 06:00

All other parties, including the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF), Botswana Peoples Party (BPP), Botswana National Front (BNF) and Alliance for Progressives (AP), plan to hold their primaries next month, almost two months after the voter registration exercise had closed. In the 2019 General Election, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) reported 22 independent candidates for the National Assembly and 200 for Local Government. Political analyst, Lesole Machacha expressed concern about a potential increase in independent candidates due to tight deadlines and limited time for parties to resolve complaints. “The upcoming election has tight deadlines, which could lead to more independent candidates. Parties have little time to resolve complaints, which could lead to tension and frustration. This could have unpredictable effects on the outcome of the election,” he stated.

Machacha emphasised the need for parties to establish clear procedures for resolving disputes arising from primary elections, suggesting specific time frames for efficient resolution. “This way, the process can be as fair and efficient as possible,” he added. Despite acknowledging that parties cannot entirely eliminate dissatisfaction with the primary process, Machacha argued that having a transparent process is essential for supporting the democratic process. Meanwhile, the Umbrella for Democratic Change affiliates; namely the BPF, BNF, BPP, and AP are working to resolve internal issues related to constituency allocation.

Mmegi has learnt that internal conflicts within parties may lead to some members considering independent candidacy. Certain members have communicated their dissatisfaction to their respective parties, explicitly stating their non-support for the party's decisions. Within the BDP already, individuals aspiring to contest in the primaries have contributed to the breakdown of party regional structures. Specifically, 10 out of the 14 regional committees have collapsed. This follows the BDP's decision to require members holding certain positions to resign before contesting Bulela-Ditswe primaries. The resolution stipulates that individuals aspiring to be candidates in primary elections and simultaneously holding positions in the Youth and Women’s Wing structures, regional committees, and sub-committees of the central committee must resign from their current positions.

Central committee members are exempt from this requirement. This measure aims to foster equitable elections, addressing the historical issues where primary elections caused more harm than benefit, leading to discontent within the party structures. Allegations of individuals exploiting their positions for unfair advantages prompted the BDP to make this decision, seeking to enhance the internal democratic process of primary elections.