Ntuane grumbles over BDP illegitimacy tag
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Botswana Democratic Party’s (BDP) Secretary General, Botsalo Ntuane has objected to an impression, he says has been illuminated in the press to portray his party’s government as illegitimate.
The former Member of Parliament (MP) for Bonnington South constituency said there has been a pattern wherein the media, “fed by opposition party propagandists,” has portrayed the 46% popular vote harvested by the BDP in the 2014 general election to somewhat signify the lack of legitimacy of its government.
Ntuane further said that, “contrary to propaganda, the BDP runs a legitimately elected government that enjoys a healthy majority in parliament that enables us to enact laws, govern unencumbered, and run a single party government.”
He described the issue as gaining popular currency in certain sections of the media, without any sign that it will let down any time soon. He further said that in a way it is designed to imply that the 46% share of the popular vote renders BDP somewhat unpopular.
He further asserted that “there is nothing out of this world about attaining less than 50% so long as a party is able to govern effectively and has the right numbers in local government”.
“The BDP attained 46% popular vote, all of a sudden everyone was telling us that the sky is falling and that it is the end of everything,” he said.
Ntuane continued further, “so much song and dance has been made about the fact that in 2014 our share of the popular vote dipped below 50% and for our detractors that renders us somewhat illegitimate and unpopular. Like earlier mentioned, this is self-serving propaganda that makes the opposition feel better when the reality is that they have failed to dislodge the BDP in 50 years.”
He also continued to state this in itself constitutes failure of historic proportions on the part of our opposition.
Ntuane further gave examples of 10 countries including Israel, Sweden, India, Malawi, Lesotho, United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand as well as Mauritius which he said ruling parties have obtained far below the 50% popular-vote in general elections between 2014 and 2015 but are strongly in power. He said that while Israel’s Likud party amassed 23.4% in 2015 it is notwithstanding a senior coalition partner in government.
Ntuane also continued to say that: “no one in the countries cited speaks the kind of language we hear in Botswana about the 50% watermark.”He also said that the claim that opposition is more popular than BDP is another example of self-serving propaganda.
He further dismissed opposition parties 53% share of the popular vote saying there is no party called opposition in the country because the opposition popular vote is split between different parties.
“So this notion that you can conflate the separate figures into one common denominator and claim that there is a party called opposition is not true. If there was a party called opposition with a 53% share of popular vote, they will be in power,” Ntuane said.
He also said that while it is not to say that his party is happy with its share of the popular vote however, “the debate over the 50% should be brought to an end once and for all.”
Umbrella for Democratic Change and Botswana Congress Party attained 30% and 20% respectively while independent candidates attained 3% in the last general election.
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Malawi appeals for help over Cyclone Freddy at PAP
As of yesterday evening, the death toll from the Cyclone in Malawi had risen from the initially reported 190 to 225 in a short period of time, over 20 000 people have been displaced, and the worst of fears are yet to come as the fatalities continue to mount. This was reported by a Malawi Member of Parliament attending the Pan African Parliament session in Midrand, South Africa, Hon Steven Mikiya.
Mikiya was giving a statement on behalf of Malawi as the ongoing Pan African Parliament in South Africa.
Mikiya said the Cyclone has wreaked the most havoc in our country’s Southern Region. “The Southern Region, has been hardest hit with widespread heavy rains and strong winds. This caused a rapid rise in water levels and subsequent flooding. Meanwhile, power supply has been disrupted, roads blocked off and rendered impassable and mudslides have also been widely reported,” he said.
He made a special appeal to the PAP: “Where I come from, there is a parable which I would like to share with you which says, “mzako weniweni umamudziwa panthawi ya mavuto.” Simply put, a friend in need is a friend indeed or put loosely, a person who helps at a difficult time is a friend you can rely on.”
Mikiya continued: “Yes! Misfortune has knocked on our door and left in its wake a trail of death and destruction that may take years to fully recover from. However, amidst these difficulties, I have every reason to believe that sometimes when you are in a dark place and think you have been buried, you have actually been planted. My belief, Mr. President, arises out of my faith in this gathering and out of the conviction that it is not coincidental that Cyclone Freddy hit Malawi and Mozambique while the delegations of both countries are here.”
According to Mikiya, the level of destruction, the loss of life, property and the decimation of the entire fabric of established communities has been unprecedented. He noted that all this, is coming at a time when Malawi was starting to show signs of recovery from the deadly COVID-19 pandemic that also came hard on the heels of Cyclone Ana and Cyclone Gombe that left a similar trail of devastation and destruction in Malawi and neighbouring countries.
As of Sunday, this week, from the 12th of March, Malawi and Mozambique have been facing the devastating effects of Cyclone Freddy that made a landfall over Mozambique on Saturday the 11th and reached Malawi by Sunday the 12th of March.
The Malawi legislator said he has absolute faith in the Pan African Parliament, which he described as “a league of nations brought together by a shared ancestry, history, identity as well as our beloved continent which we inhabit”.
Meanwhile, Malawi President, Lazarus Chakwera, has declared a State of Disaster in the affected areas effectively appealing for local and international support for the affected families.
Mikiya appealed to the Pan African Parliament drawing “positive” inspiration from Europe which rallied around Turkey after the destructive earthquakes to bring the much-needed relief and humanitarian aid to the people of Turkey.
He said Africa should demonstrate to the world that the African Union and its Organs are not mere talk shows, but effective institutions which stand up when it matters most.
“Alone, it may take us a lifetime to fully recover, but together, in the Pan-Africanist spirit of Ubuntu, our lives and livelihoods will return to a semblance of normality in record time. This is the time to live by our operative mantra, “One Africa, One Voice.” Mikiya concluded.