Prospects of BDP comeback very slim-Maundeni
Lebogang Mosikare | Monday November 11, 2024 16:58
For the first time in history, the BDP, which had ruled the country since independence in 1966, suffered a crushing defeat in last week’s elections. The BDP was soundly beaten by the new President Duma Boko’s Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) winning only four out of 61 National Assembly seats. The UDC won 36 parliamentary seats followed by the Botswana Congress Party (BCP), 15 and Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) five seats respectively. Some analysts have blamed mounting economic grievances, high youth unemployment rate amongst others for the BDP’s downfall. In an interview with Mmegi on Wednesday, Maundeni said the BDP’s comeback largely depends on how the ruling UDC will perform. “The recovery of the BDP from this heavy electoral loss will not be easy and will be difficult. First, this will depend on the performance of the current regime. If they are able to deliver services to the people, if they are able to revive the economy, if they are able to create jobs, if they improve working relations with trade unions, if the current regime can fight corruption, if they can revive the public service and restore confidence of Batswana, then it will be extremely difficult for the BDP to come back,” he said.
Maundeni added it will also depend on whether many Batswana who previously supported the BDP migrate and join the new government. “It will be extremely difficult for the BDP to come back. It boils down to the performance of the UDC. If the UDC performs well, the BDP will be gone. Remember, we now have a new official opposition in the BCP. “If the BCP is able to hold the current regime accountable, if they show that they are a credible opposition or government in waiting, then there is no space for the BDP,” said Maundeni. Weighing in the matter, another political analyst at the UB, Adam Mfundisi, said the political annihilation of the BDP was unprecedented in the annals of Botswana politics. “This was the dramatic and explosive defeat of a party that has (mis)ruled Botswana for more than five decades. Some of us expected a fierce battle between the BDP, UDC and BCP. The prediction was that the BDP was going to lose State power through a coalition of the BCP and UDC in which no political party would garner 31 seats, a threshold to majority rule.' He added:' Unfortunately, political analysts, commentators, observers, and other formations were shocked by the turn of events in which the opposition UDC cruised to victory with a large majority. The UDC attained 36, BCP 15, BPF 5, and BDP four as well as an independent candidate one. The total of seats fought for was 61. We should recall that what happened in the 2024 general elections is comparable to the 2019 polls where the BDP unexpectedly won massively against the UDC.' He said:
“From 38 seats in the 2019 elections to paltry four is devastating for a political party that reigned supreme for 58 years of uninterrupted rule. The BDP is destined to the political graveyard. It will be extremely difficult for it to resurrect from the massive loss of the 2024 general elections. Corruption, clientelism and patronage sustained its role since 1966. These political networks have been broken forever and it would be a daunting task to bounce back in the doldrums.
The BDP has always relied on state resources, institutions, processes and personnel to win elections. Deprived of such assets the BDP is dead on arrival. It has mobilised state assets for the 2024 polls but failed dismally.” Mfundisi posits that historically, no ruling political party has ever won elections when the economy is in tatters. “The Botswana economy has collapsed mainly due to rampant corruption, maladministration and impulsive spending. The demise of the BDP has sent the party to political oblivion. No liberation and/or independence political parties in Africa have ever resurrected after defeat. The BDP is joining Kanu (Kenya), Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), Angola, United National Independence Party (UNIP), Zambia, and others, at the political graveyard. There are few opportunities for it to rise again... BDP leadership displayed a high level of arrogance of power which annoyed many voters leading to its demolition at the polls. This has been an irreparable damage to the monstrous BDP,” said Mfundisi.