allAfrica.com: Botswana: BNF Scores Own Goals Again (Page 1 of 1)

The main opposition party, the Botswana National Front (BNF) is scoring own goals again.

With just a year left before the general elections, the BNF house is on fire. Infighting has erupted in the perennially troubled party.

While other parties are preparing for the general elections, the BNF is tearing itself apart once again. These suicidal tendencies have become the party's trademark, especially when the general elections are approaching.

In constituencies like Gaborone North, the party has not identified a parliamentary candidate. Already, there is a dispute as to who should represent the party in the constituency. In 2004, the BNF lost the Gaborone North constituency to the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) due to similar reasons. The then BNF MP for the constituency, Michael Mzwinila was barred from contesting because he had problems with the party. The BNF lawyer, Patrick Kgoadi, who had been crying for the constituency all along. Eventually, the BNF lost the constituency to BDP.

There is a strong belief that if the party had fielded the more popular Mzwinila, the seat would have been retained.Now history is repeating itself for the BNF as the party is still polarised in Gaborone North. On the one hand, there is Gaborone lawyer Gabriel Kanjabanga, who is insisting that he is the rightful candidate because he met all the requirements before the deadline.

But then there is veteran party activist, Lemogang Ntime, who has vied for the constituency in the past. It looks like the BNF might give him the nod, and Kanjabanga has threatened to go to court if the party does not field him in Gaborone North.

The BNF is yet to call primary elections in the constituency. But even in some constituencies where the primaries were held, there is no peace.

In Lobatse, the candidate who won the primaries, Nehemiah Modubule has been suspended. The suspension of the MP has put into doubt whether he would be allowed to contest the general elections under a BNF ticket. It is clear that Modubule is not the party's favourite for the constituency though the people had spoken during the primary elections.

Fire has erupted in Gaborone South which used to be a BNF strong hold. The area MP, Akanyang Magama, who won the primaries has been suspended. Just like Modubule, Magama belongs to the Kathleen Letshabo faction. The MP has taken the BNF to court to challenge the decision to call for a re-run in Gaborone South.

This is not the first time that the BNF has been taken to court by one of its members over primary elections. Towards the 2004 general elections, Gaborone West South MP, Robert Molefhabangwe, dragged the party to court after he was defeated in disputed primaries by Harry Mothei. There was a feeling that the primaries were stage-managed. Molefhabangwe, -emerged victorious in the re-run ordered by the court. The disgruntled Gaborone Central candidate, Nelson Ramaotwana, has jumped ship following continuous infighting in the party. Surprisingly, Ramaotwana has always been a party favourite and supporter of BNF president, Otsweletse Moupo. He only changed allegiance recently. The BNF will now have to call for primary elections in the constituency.Following the Molepololole special congress at which Moupo was re-elected party president, there was talk that the new leadership was going to purge members of the Letshabo faction during the primaries. But the BNF leadership dismissed the claims saying it is extending the olive branch to the defeated faction.

However, tables have been turned in the primary elections as the Moupo faction is walloped. Even Moupo himself was ousted in Gaborone West North constituency by a little-known party activist.

After the results of the primary elections, it appears that the BNF high command is engaged in a witch hunt by reversing the results.

Now there are question marks about the party's readiness for the primaries let alone the general elections. University of Botswana (UB) political scientist, David Sebudubudu, said the BNF is failed by its leadership, especially its president, Moupo. "History would judge some of the BNF leaders harshly," he said.To him, the party leadership is the real problem. He accused the leadership of inflicting irreparable damage to the party.

"We should be worried that the party would have to collapse because of one man. It is very sad," he said. Sebudubudu said Moupo has refused to step down despite his blunders. He added that things will be worse if the BNF takes power.

Due to the instability in the party, Sebudubudu predicts that the BDP will not have serious competition in the elections until after 10 years. He said if the BNF leaders do not address some of the problems besieging the party, they are likely to lose some of the constituencies next year. He said a party, which cannot organise itself, cannot campaign effectively.But he believes that if the current party leadership is ousted, things will change.

"The leadership is all out to destroy the BNF. There is no reason why one should vote for the BNF. There is no need to vote for a party if the votes are not taken seriously," he said. Sebudubudu said Moupo has become a burden to the BNF. He added that in 2004, Moupo lost in Selebi-Phikwe and he continues to be a liability even after transfer to the BNF stronghold of Gaborone. "We should be worried if the party is to collapse because of one man. He is basically destroying the party," he said.Sebudubudu cautioned that political parties are public bodies and not private companies.

He said the party leadership must be prepared to step down if it's no longer serving the interests of the movement. He added that democracy is under threat because the BNF leadership is not willing to step down. The BNF, he said, has goodwill, but not good leadership. Compared to the BNF, he said the Botswana Congress Party (BCP)is more organised. However, he said, the BCP does not have the numbers.

Sebudubudu said that maybe one reason for the incessant fights in the BNF is that to some party activists, politics has become a source of income.

He said the battle for positions in the party could be fierce because some members had funded their own campaigns. He added that when individuals invest their money, they tend to think that the party is their personal property. To avert crisis, he feels there is need for state funding of political parties.

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