Just before the elections of October 30, four men submitted their names as candidates for the office of President of Botswana: Duma Boko for the UDC, Dumelang Saleshando for the BCP, Mephato Reatile for the BPF and Former President (F-resident) Mokgweetsi Masisi for the BDP. Each of those men was backed by a list of one thousand names of their political followers. Each man promised to deliver a minimum of 31 constituencies won by his party under his leadership.
As things turned out, only President Duma Boko did deliver the 31 constituencies. While some rumblings of alleged unfairness of the elections were voiced subsequently, the other three (3) gentlemen nevertheless conceded defeat at the elections. What I find very surprising is that their statements conceding defeat were not accompanied by their announcements of their resignations as leaders of their parties. Even the most dismal performer, being F-resident Masisi, could only say that the matter of his future in the BDP was an internal party matter. This is shocking! It's as if he doesn't really accept responsibility for his party's loss. F-resident Masisi should have announced his resignation as party leader on 31 October, 2024 at the latest. The same goes for Dumelang Saleshando. He shouldn't even be Leader of Opposition in Parliament. Any one of the BCP members of Parliament could have been chosen to lead the opposition in Parliament.
Political parties have a right, and the country at large has an expectation, that those who fail to successfully lead their parties to victory in an election, should step aside. No "internal matters" need be considered until the leadership has changed hands. I would go so far as to suggest that in the case of political parties that are a conglomerate of different political organizations such as BCP comprising of MELS, BAM etc. not only the BCP leader but all the leaders of the constituent parties should resign as well, because it was their decisions which led to their parties having the BCP leader as their presidential candidate. And so I call upon F-resident Masisi, Mr. Dumelang Saleshando, Mr. Mephato Reatile along with all their political lieutenants to resign leaderships of their parties immediately!