Having released their maiden manifesto late into the campaign in 2019, and the same overshadowed by the influence of Khama as an individual who is at odds with his former party, it would seem like the same will repeat towards the 2024 General Election. The BPF will over the weekend convene in Serowe for their manifesto launch where they will also launch their three parliamentary hopefuls for Serowe North, Baratiwa Mathoothe; Serowe South Leepetswe Lesedi and Onalepelo Kedikilwe for Serowe West. This will also be the time when the party’s chief campaigner, Khama will officially start his work of selling the BPF. It is anticipated that Khama will later take up his seat as Bagammangwato Kgosi and quit politics. This would mean the BPF, which has also seen growth in representation from across the country, needs to put more effort in selling a solid manifesto to compete with other parties. Is Khama the real BPF manifesto?
The BPF has always been known to rely on the so called ‘Khama Magic’ with the belief that Khama has his way of attracting people to himself and any causes he partakes in. Even the man who would ordinarily be the face of the party’s campaign, president Mephato Reatile admitted during a press conference recently that it would take just the presence of Khama at their party events and saying a few words that would ensure that though they came late to the campaign season, they would still perform greatly. Interestingly, despite the party not having been clear on its election plan, joining the Umbrella for Democratic Change then leaving before elections, internal fighting leading to court cases, absence of party manifesto, the BPF has been the biggest beneficiary of primary elections casualties from other parties. The party until just last week was accepting disgruntled members from the BDP and opposition parties with most of them going on to test in new territories almost in any region. Also, it has never been about what the BPF as a party can offer or what is in their manifesto, but rather they hope to benefit from Khama’s popularity and assumed sympathy votes over his self-exile which he says he was forced on by government. Inside the BPF 2024 manifesto Following a recent press briefing where they said they would announce a date for their manifesto launch, the BPF has announced they would be doing so in Serowe over the weekend.
Speaking to Mmegi ahead of the day, party president, Reatile who has since gained confidence that he could actually enter State House, said at the top of their agenda would be a forensic audit. “We are really concerned that government coffers have run dry, but there is nothing to show for it. It is therefore important that when we take over as the new government we start off by conducting a forensic audit to establish where our money has vanished to. “That is the only way we can then start running the country knowing what to fix and take any actions against those who put our country in this mess,” he said. Further, Reatile said they were irked by the recent constitutional review process which ended up failing due to lack of quorum after opposition legislators walked out of Parliament. He said they have it in their manifesto that during his first 100 days in office, the BPF would ensure a proper people centred constitutional review exercise is undertaken. Reatile also said they were irked by corruption under the current regime and intend to fight it with all might and ensure institutions are independent from influence of the rulers.
Amongst others, the BPF president said they would look at creating job opportunities, dealing with poverty and inequalities and also providing better social safety nets. He said they would also look at Ntlo ya Dikgosi as a separate institution which should be given independence and respect. The 2019 manifesto To this day, some people still do not know that the BPF had a manifesto in 2019. Despite the manifesto having been launched then in Francistown, its copies were not widely circulated. However, the BPF still performed well for a new political party, winning three parliamentary seats and also contributing to the win of other opposition parties in some instances. The 2019 BPF manifesto was almost in terms of their key points. In 2019, the BPF promised that if voted into power, they would review the Constitution to bring about the direct election of the president outside Cabinet and Parliament. The party said they would reform the civil service as well as to introduce a President’s Advisory Council for the youth, women, people living with disabilities, and the general workforce that would meet quarterly. They also stated that BPF would work with other political organisations and civil societies to deliver a new Botswana saying the promotion of good governance coupled with the respect for human rights was also high on its agenda.
The BPF further stated that the party would also review legislation that created certain state agencies such as the Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS), Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA) and Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS) and make them report directly to Parliament. On the economy and Infrastructure, development and job creation, the party stated that it would manage resources prudently for the full benefit of its people to ensure their full participation in the strategic diversification and beneficiation of all mineral and natural resources. Regarding the health sector, the BPF promised they would prioritise preventive health care, increase the number of doctors, nurses, various specialists and physicians to ensure no one has to wait too long to see a doctor or to undergo necessary surgery.
