Behind Dikoloti's victory
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Wednesday November 6, 2024 09:57
Remarkably, Dikoloti triumphed in a large constituency of 21 councillors, without any local councillor backing him. Winning a parliamentary seat without party support is no easy feat. Dikoloti now stands as the second Member of Parliament to achieve this, following Nehemiah Modubule of Lobatse in 2009. In an interview, his campaign manager, Roderick Mogotsi revealed that sympathy votes played a crucial role.
Many constituents felt that Dikoloti had been wronged, fuelling the narrative that the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) deserved punishment. Moreover, Dikoloti maintained good relations with his former team. Mogotsi said that all campaign team members had resigned from the BDP, providing them with valuable local data. They didn’t start from scratch; instead, they garnered support from former BDP sympathisers, as not everyone was aligned with Peggy Serame. Mogotsi further explained that some former BDP members who had once collaborated with Dikoloti during Bulela Ditswe felt unwelcome and chose to support him again. Only council candidates who backed Dikoloti remained in the BDP, allowing his team to effectively monitor the BDP's movements, thanks to their established connections. The campaign strategy was robust. They relied on house-to-house outreach rather than traditional rallies or launches. 'We won without a launch or a rally,' Mogotsi emphasised.
Additionally, alliances with individuals from other parties, like the UDC, proved beneficial. Out of 21 councillors, Dikoloti captured 13, whilst the BDP secured seven and an independent candidate took one. Timing also played a role. UDC’s candidate was chosen late, affecting their performance. Dikoloti's appeal spanned across various political groups, contributing to his significant margin of victory. Finally, Mogotsi said community engagement initiatives such as football tournaments, horse races, and dikhwaere competitions.
Dikoloti’s commitment to programmes like building for the less privileged and the 'Adopt-a-School' initiative provided him with a distinct advantage over his competitors.