There's no political party funding without BCP - Saleshando
Botswana Congress Party (BCP) President, Dumelang Saleshando says the BCP is not begging to benefit from political party funding, but they are entitled to it, as they are a legitimate party.
Saleshando was addressing a media briefing on Wednesday in Gaborone, where he emphasised the party's readiness to lead and govern the people of Botswana. He said they will not fight for political party funding as they know that they won 11 seats in the last election under the UDC.
“Political party funding is still in the dark even though it has been five months since the announcement of it by government,” Saleshando said, adding that the government is denying other players desperate for funds ahead of the elections. He said the fact that they are no longer part of the UDC does not take away their right to also get a piece of the pie and anyone who says otherwise is dishonest and disingenuous.
Furthermore, he noted that there is no reason why the government should be delaying in distributing the funds to political parties. Saleshando said that there will be no political party funding that excludes the BCP. He said that the BCP has been busy with the recent youth manifesto launch and the national tour to unveil party manifesto chapters before the final manifesto is drafted.
He explained that the BCP has launched 24 Parliament candidates and the party has 58 confirmed parliamentary candidates. The intention of the BCP is to finish the MP launches by end of August or early September as the party readies itself for the elections. Saleshando said the BCP wants a free and fair election. He said fairness begin before elections. Saleshando noted that the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has an input on free and fair elections and they must do all in their power to level the playing ground.
However, he said it is worrying to witness a party that wants to conduct its business secretly. He noted that in the past the IEC was giving electronic copies of the voters’ roll and despite calls for digitalisation by government, this year they have refused to share the voters’ roll electronically. Saleshando accused the IEC of refusing to cooperate with them when they show them mishaps in the election body. He explained that election observers have
previously raised a point that counting of votes can be done at polling stations and IEC has previously raised it in a report of election evaluation.
He said there are areas in the Northern region of Botswana where polling stations are far from counting centres lamenting that in such areas, drivers have to rush on bad roads and wildlife areas to get to counting centres before they close, putting the lives of the drivers and observers at risk. Saleshando said that they will table a motion for counting to be done at polling stations.
He said that state media is not being fair by not covering them in their events despite the fact that they have been reported at Ombudsman and despite the fact that they had previously promised to cover the BCP. He said this is a threat to democracy of the nation when the BDP gets over 80 percent coverage from state media whilst opposition parties get the remaining percentage. Saleshando noted that BTV has decided to prioritise President Masisi's “stand-up comedy” while neglecting democracy. He said that Masisi is better slated with other local comedians and they will report these issues with election observers prior to the elections.
The BCP will hold a congress to evaluate their readiness for the upcoming elections. Saleshando said that they are looking for 31 constituencies to win.
Their upcoming conference will ensure that the BCP will come out of the elections with more than 31 wins. Saleshando is certain that the winds of change are blowing in Africa with Lesotho, DRC, Malawi and Zambia examples of some countries that have changed political power.
Saleshando is adamant that 31 seats are attainable as the party historically has a strong presence on the ground. He said that their endorsement levels among Batswana is on the rise and he understands that what they want to do is not easy but it is possible. He warned against exaggerating one’s political presence prior to elections on the ground as the voters are the ones who have the final say on who they choose to vote.
“The BCP knows that the winds of change don’t just come about,” he explained, adding that the BCP is advanced with launching candidates. They have launched their manifesto chapters and will soon launch their manifesto.
Saleshando said that it is strange that President Masisi has not yet called for the elections and Batswana should be worried about this.