As political parties and their candidates warm up for 2014 general elections, more independents are expressing their desire to contest parliamentary and council seats across the country. The latest independent parliamentary hopeful is none other than Sidney Baitsile or “DJ Sid” as he is affectionately known, who seeks to dethrone Dumelang Saleshando in Gaborone Central constituency.
In what would be an uphill battle, Baitsile will in addition to the incumbent, face Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) President Gomolemo Motswaledi and Botswana Democratic Party (BDP)’s Kgomotso Mogami.
In an interview with The Gazette, he said that his standing emanates from disgruntlement with partisan politicians who he argues have failed the constituency he has been a resident of for many years. Baistile, who doesn’t consider himself a politician, said that politicians are only talented at talking and making themselves look intelligent, when a regular person like himself is struggling to make ends meet. “I am standing as an independent candidate because I believe we (me and you) can put that to a stop, ensuring that politicians represent us, not themselves,” he said.
The veteran DJ further said he has shifted his belief from parties as they are lost in ideologies instead of true representation of the people and meeting their needs. He said each and every Motswana who sees it fit to campaign and stand for political office should do so and not be hindered by lack of resources as it has become a norm in Botswana politics. He said politics is now for the wealthy and wants to use this campaign to prove that it is still for the people. “It’s the regular people who decide the final vote not political association”, he said.