Ruling party win likely as Botswana set to vote

The BNF is still expected to retain its status as the main opposition party though as usual, it has been rocked by internal feuding that is still raging. Its leader Mr Otsweletse Moupo has been beaten in party nominations and will not be defending his Gaborone West North parliamentary seat though he is in the presidential race. Under his watch, the party has experienced deep divisions and become moribund after he got weakened by scandals in his personal and professional life.

Though general elections in Botswana are free and fair, the opposition has always had its grouses about the shenanigans of the BDP in electioneering. Recently the opposition demanded that the date of the elections should be fixed by law and should not be left for the president to decide. They have called for direct election of the president and abolition of first past the post system in favour of proportional representation.

Over the years the opposition has loudly cried about the uneven playing field with the BDP in control of state media and huge resources from unnamed donors. The opposition has repeatedly called for state funding of political parties and equal access to media.

While government media has given the opposition coverage, state funding for political parties remain a dream.

Recently brewing giant, Kgalagadi Breweries Limited (KBL) took the unprecedented step of publicly donating P1 million to all political parties according to their strength in parliament.