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Periodical article | Leiden University catalogue | WorldCat |
Title: | The Political Opposition in Botswana: The Politics of Factionalism and Fragmentation |
Author: | Osei-Hwedie, Bertha Z. |
Year: | 2001 |
Periodical: | Transformation: Critical Perspectives on Southern Africa |
Issue: | 45 |
Pages: | 57-77 |
Language: | English |
Geographic term: | Botswana |
Subjects: | political parties opposition parties Politics and Government |
External link: | https://d.lib.msu.edu/tran/426/OBJ/download |
Abstract: | In postcolonial Africa, in spite of the resurgence in multipartyism, it has been rare for opposition parties to assume power through the electoral process. This applies even to Botswana, one of Africa's long-established democracies. This paper analyses why the opposition has neither been able to take over governmental power in Botswana nor even pose a threat to the ruling group's national domination of the political arena since independence in 1966. The paper argues that the opposition's electoral weakness stems from lack of organizational capability, inadequate financial resources and lack of intra and interparty cohesion. Attempts at bolstering the strength of opposition parties through an electoral alliance have not been successful. The opposition remains divided into warring factions which criticize and undermine each other rather than capitalizing on errors of the ruling BDP (Botswana Democratic Party). A combination of good economic political performance by the BDP and factionalism within the opposition contributed to the BDP's landslide victory in the 1999 elections. Bibliogr. |