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.infobox-subbox{padding:0;border:none;margin:-3px;width:auto;min-width:100%;font-size:100%;clear:none;float:none;background-color:transparent}.mw-parser-output .infobox-3cols-child{margin:auto}.mw-parser-output .infobox .navbar{font-size:100%}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data:not(.notheme)>div:not(.notheme)[style]{background:#1f1f23!important;color:#f8f9fa}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data:not(.notheme) div:not(.notheme){background:#1f1f23!important;color:#f8f9fa}}@media(min-width:640px){body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table{display:table!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table>caption{display:table-caption!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table>tbody{display:table-row-group}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table tr{display:table-row!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table th,body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table td{padding-left:inherit;padding-right:inherit}}</style><table class="infobox vcard"><tbody><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-above" style="font-size: 125%;"><div style="padding-top:0.3em; padding-bottom:0.3em; border-top:2px solid red; border-bottom:2px solid red; line-height: 1;"><div class="fn org">MELS Movement of Botswana</div> </div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-image logo" style="padding-top:.4em;padding-bottom:.3em;"><span class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Frameless"><a href="/wiki/File:MELS_Movement_Botswana_symbol.png" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/50/MELS_Movement_Botswana_symbol.png" decoding="async" width="98" height="98" class="mw-file-element" data-file-width="98" data-file-height="98" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="line-height:1.3em;">President</th><td class="infobox-data agent" style="line-height:1.3em;">Themba Joina</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="line-height:1.3em;">First Secretary</th><td class="infobox-data agent" style="line-height:1.3em;">Mosalage Ditshoto</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="line-height:1.3em;">Founded</th><td class="infobox-data" style="line-height:1.3em;">1984 as a study movement, 1994 as political party</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="line-height:1.3em;">Dissolved</th><td class="infobox-data" style="line-height:1.3em;">2013</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="line-height:1.3em;">Merged into</th><td class="infobox-data" style="line-height:1.3em;"><a href="/wiki/Botswana_Congress_Party" title="Botswana Congress Party">Botswana Congress Party</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="line-height:1.3em;">Headquarters</th><td class="infobox-data label" style="line-height:1.3em;"><a href="/wiki/Gaborone" title="Gaborone">Gaborone</a><sup id="cite_ref-ie_1-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ie-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="line-height:1.3em;"><a href="/wiki/List_of_political_ideologies" title="List of political ideologies">Ideology</a></th><td class="infobox-data category" style="line-height:1.3em;"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1126788409">.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul{line-height:inherit;list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol li,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul li{margin-bottom:0}</style><div class="plainlist"><ul><li><a href="/wiki/Communism" title="Communism">Communism</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Marxism%E2%80%93Leninism" title="Marxism–Leninism">Marxism–Leninism</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Stalinism" title="Stalinism">Stalinism</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Maoism" title="Maoism">Maoism</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Anti-revisionism" class="mw-redirect" title="Anti-revisionism">Anti-revisionism</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Pan-Africanism" title="Pan-Africanism">Pan-Africanism</a></li></ul></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="line-height:1.3em;"><a href="/wiki/Political_spectrum" title="Political spectrum">Political position</a></th><td class="infobox-data category" style="line-height:1.3em;"><a href="/wiki/Far-left_politics" title="Far-left politics">Far-left</a></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-below" style="padding-top:0;"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1129693374">.mw-parser-output .hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul{margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt,.mw-parser-output .hlist li{margin:0;display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul ul{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist .mw-empty-li{display:none}.mw-parser-output .hlist dt::after{content:": "}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li::after{content:" · ";font-weight:bold}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li:last-child::after{content:none}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dd:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dt:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dd:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dt:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dd:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dt:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist li li:first-child::before{content:" (";font-weight:normal}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd li:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt li:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li li:last-child::after{content:")";font-weight:normal}.mw-parser-output .hlist ol{counter-reset:listitem}.mw-parser-output .hlist ol>li{counter-increment:listitem}.mw-parser-output .hlist ol>li::before{content:" "counter(listitem)"\a0 "}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd ol>li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt ol>li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist li ol>li:first-child::before{content:" ("counter(listitem)"\a0 "}</style><div class="hlist" style="line-height:1.3em; padding-top:0.3em; border-top:2px solid red;"><ul><li><a href="/wiki/Politics_of_Botswana" title="Politics of Botswana">Politics of Botswana</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_political_parties_in_Botswana" title="List of political parties in Botswana">Political parties</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Elections_in_Botswana" title="Elections in Botswana">Elections</a></li></ul></div></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>The <b>MELS Movement of Botswana</b> was an <a href="/wiki/Anti-revisionism" class="mw-redirect" title="Anti-revisionism">anti-revisionist</a> <a href="/wiki/Marxism%E2%80%93Leninism" title="Marxism–Leninism">Marxist-Leninist</a> <a href="/wiki/Communist_party" title="Communist party">communist party</a> in <a href="/wiki/Botswana" title="Botswana">Botswana</a> without parliamentary representation. Themba Joina, a practicing lawyer, was the president of the organization.<sup id="cite_ref-wp_2-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-wp-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The name MELS is derived from <a href="/wiki/Karl_Marx" title="Karl Marx">(Karl) <b>M</b>arx</a>, <a href="/wiki/Friedrich_Engels" title="Friedrich Engels">(Friedrich) <b>E</b>ngels</a>, <a href="/wiki/Vladimir_Lenin" title="Vladimir Lenin">(Vladimir) <b>L</b>enin</a> and <a href="/wiki/Joseph_Stalin" title="Joseph Stalin">(Joseph) <b>S</b>talin</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>MELS emerged as a study group inspired by <a href="/wiki/Mao_Zedong" title="Mao Zedong">Mao Zedong</a> and <a href="/wiki/Pan-Africanism" title="Pan-Africanism">Pan-Africanism</a>, founded at the Shashe Senior Secondary School in 1984. Its founding general secretary was Christopher Phatshwe.<sup id="cite_ref-wp_2-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-wp-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-me_5-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-me-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The basic political documents of the movement were drafted by Christopher Phatshswe and Thomson Proctor.<sup id="cite_ref-me_5-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-me-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Branches of the movement were formed at different educational institutions, such as the <a href="/wiki/University_of_Botswana" title="University of Botswana">University of Botswana</a>, Senior Secondary Schools and teacher training colleges.<sup id="cite_ref-wp_2-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-wp-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> According to Joina, the group had contacts with the <a href="/wiki/Black_Consciousness_Movement" title="Black Consciousness Movement">Black Consciousness Movement of Azania</a> (BCM(A)) and the <a href="/wiki/Pan-Africanist_Congress_of_Azania" class="mw-redirect" title="Pan-Africanist Congress of Azania">Pan-Africanist Congress of Azania</a> (PAC) in neighbouring <a href="/wiki/South_Africa" title="South Africa">South Africa</a> and MELS activists received political trainings from these groups. The MELS group constituting itself as a political party in 1994.<sup id="cite_ref-wp_2-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-wp-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Following Phatshwe's death, Mosalage Ditshoto became the new general secretary of the party.<sup id="cite_ref-wp_2-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-wp-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> As of 2008, Mpho Mokano served as the youth secretary of the party.<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The MELS Movement advocated for socialist policies, calling for support to unemployed and the setting up of Student Representative Councils across the country.<sup id="cite_ref-dn_7-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-dn-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> They decried the <a href="/wiki/Botswana_Democratic_Party" title="Botswana Democratic Party">Botswana Democratic Party</a>'s rule as 'neo-colonial'.<sup id="cite_ref-dn_7-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-dn-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Regarding regional issues, MELS Movement opposed the positions of <a href="/wiki/Ian_Khama" title="Ian Khama">Ian Khama</a>'s government towards the contemporary political situation in <a href="/wiki/Zimbabwe" title="Zimbabwe">Zimbabwe</a> (charging the Botswana government with having sided with the <a href="/wiki/Movement_for_Democratic_Change_%E2%80%93_Tsvangirai" title="Movement for Democratic Change – Tsvangirai">Movement for Democratic Change</a> in Zimbabwean politics).<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> At the 2011 annual delegates conference of the party in <a href="/wiki/Molepolole" title="Molepolole">Molepolole</a>, Joina condemned the <a href="/wiki/NATO" title="NATO">NATO</a> attack on <a href="/wiki/Libya" title="Libya">Libya</a> and called on the <a href="/wiki/African_Union" title="African Union">African Union</a> to intervene.<sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>At the time of the <a href="/wiki/1994_Botswana_general_election" title="1994 Botswana general election">1994 parliamentary election</a>, MELS joined the <a href="/wiki/United_Democratic_Front_(Botswana)" title="United Democratic Front (Botswana)">United Democratic Front</a>, a coalition of parties opposed to both the BDP and the BNF. No MELS nor any other UDF candidate was able to get elected.<sup id="cite_ref-10" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The party contested the <a href="/wiki/1999_Botswana_general_election" title="1999 Botswana general election">1999 general election</a>, but merely received twenty-two votes (0.01% of the national vote).<sup id="cite_ref-11" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Prior to the election, Joina stated that the party only possessed one campaign vehicle and thus party activists had to move by foot to reach voters.<sup id="cite_ref-12" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Following the election the MELS Movement candidate in the Gaborone West constituency, Ndiye Tlhatlogang, charged the Independent Electoral Commission with irregularities.<sup id="cite_ref-13" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>13<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>At the <a href="/wiki/2009_Botswana_general_election" title="2009 Botswana general election">2009 general election</a>, the party presented candidates in four parliamentary constituencies and two in local constituencies. None were elected.<sup id="cite_ref-14" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-14"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>14<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In total the party got 292 votes (0.05% of the national vote).<sup id="cite_ref-15" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-15"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>15<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The party contested the 2010 by-election in the Tonota North parliamentary constituency, fielding Mbayani Tshekedi Phalalo as its candidate.<sup id="cite_ref-16" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-16"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>16<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-17" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-17"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>17<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The party merged into the <a href="/wiki/Centre-left_politics" title="Centre-left politics">centre-left</a> <a href="/wiki/Botswana_Congress_Party" title="Botswana Congress Party">Botswana Congress Party</a> in 2013.<sup id="cite_ref-18" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-18"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>18<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=MELS_Movement_of_Botswana&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist reflist-columns references-column-width reflist-columns-2"> <ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-ie-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-ie_1-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Independent Electoral Commission of Botswana. <i><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.iec.gov.bw/index.php/poli-parties-nav/100-mels">MELS Movement Botswana</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.today/20121127212854/http://www.iec.gov.bw/index.php/poli-parties-nav/100-mels">Archived</a> 2012-11-27 at <a href="/wiki/Archive.today" title="Archive.today">archive.today</a></i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-wp-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-wp_2-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-wp_2-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-wp_2-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-wp_2-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-wp_2-4"><sup><i><b>e</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><i>Weekend Post</i>. <i><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.weekendpost.co.bw/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1861%3Athe-origins-of-mels-the-great-phatshwe&Itemid=68">The origins of MELS - The Great Phatshwe</a></i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-3">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><i>Mmegi Online</i> <i><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?sid=1&aid=132&dir=2011/September/Wednesday21">Botswana silent on Manzunzu fraud charges</a></i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-4">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Fombad, Charles Manga. <i><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=K3URmAtiO3QC&pg=PA14">Media Law in Botswana</a></i>. Alphen aan den Rijn, The Netherlands: Kluwer Law International, 2011. p. 14</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-me-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-me_5-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-me_5-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><i>Daily News</i>. <i><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.today/20121130161833/http://www.dailynews.gov.bw/cgi-bin/news.cgi?d=20041020">BOPA News on 20 October 2004</a></i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-6">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><i>Mmegi Online</i>. <i><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://72.167.255.126/index.php?sid=2&aid=5&dir=2008/July/Wednesday9">MELS against Zim elections petition</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.today/20121130003859/http://72.167.255.126/index.php?sid=2&aid=5&dir=2008/July/Wednesday9">Archived</a> 2012-11-30 at <a href="/wiki/Archive.today" title="Archive.today">archive.today</a></i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-dn-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-dn_7-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-dn_7-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><i>Daily News</i>. <i><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.today/20121127192327/http://www.dailynews.gov.bw/cgi-bin/news.cgi?d=19990818">BOPA News on 18 August 1999</a></i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-8">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><i>Sunday Standard</i>. <i><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.sundaystandard.info/print_article.php?NewsID=6997">‘Khama must apologize to Mugabe’ - MELS</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.today/20130218085122/http://www.sundaystandard.info/print_article.php?NewsID=6997">Archived</a> 2013-02-18 at <a href="/wiki/Archive.today" title="Archive.today">archive.today</a></i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-9"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-9">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><i>Mmegi Online</i>. <i><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?sid=1&aid=545&dir=2011/July/Wednesday27">MELS calls for AU military intervention in Libya</a></i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-10"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-10">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Sebudubudu, David and Bertha Z. Osie-Hwedie. <i><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.giga-hamburg.de/openaccess/afrikaspectrum/2006_1/giga_as_2006_1_sebudubudu.pdf">Pitfalls of parliamentary democracy in Botswana</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220401023909/https://www.giga-hamburg.de/openaccess/afrikaspectrum/2006_1/giga_as_2006_1_sebudubudu.pdf">Archived</a> 1 April 2022 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a></i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-11"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-11">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Electoral Commissions Forum (Southern African Development Community), and Denis Kadima. <i><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=sCEWAQAAIAAJ">Botswana Elections Observer Mission Report, 16 October 1999</a></i>. Auckland Park, South Africa: Electoral Institute of Southern Africa, 1999. p. 24</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-12"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-12">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><i>Daily News</i>. <i><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.today/20121129045602/http://www.dailynews.gov.bw/cgi-bin/news.cgi?d=19991020">BOPA News on 20 October 1999</a></i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-13"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-13">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><i>Daily News</i>. <i><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.today/20121128205459/http://www.dailynews.gov.bw/cgi-bin/news.cgi?d=19991022">BOPA News on 22 October 1999</a></i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-14"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-14">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><i>Mmegi Online</i> <i><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?sid=1&aid=190&dir=2009/November/Tuesday3">Joina wants social democratic parties to unite</a></i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-15"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-15">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Independent Electoral Commission of Botswana. <i><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.iec.gov.bw/attachments/087_2009%20General%20Elections%20Report.pdf">2009 General Elections Report</a><sup class="noprint Inline-Template"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot" title="Wikipedia:Link rot"><span title=" Dead link tagged April 2016">dead link</span></a></i><span style="visibility:hidden; color:transparent; padding-left:2px">‍</span>]</span></sup></i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-16"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-16">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><i>Mmegi Online</i>. <i><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?sid=1&aid=4229&dir=2010/August/Thursday19">MELS accuses media of blackout in Tonota North</a></i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-17"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-17">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><i>Sunday Standard</i>. <i><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.sundaystandard.info/article.php?NewsID=8565&GroupID=1">MELS dismisses opposition coalition in Tonota North Constituency</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100822131112/http://www.sundaystandard.info/article.php?NewsID=8565&GroupID=1">Archived</a> August 22, 2010, at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a></i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-18"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-18">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.thegazette.news/latest-news/cracks-emerge-in-bcpmels-merger/">"Cracks emerge in BCP/MELS merger"</a>. <i>Botswana Gazette</i>. 14 November 2013<span class="reference-accessdate">. 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href="/wiki/Parliament_of_Botswana" title="Parliament of Botswana">Parliamentary</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Botswana_Democratic_Party" title="Botswana Democratic Party">Botswana Democratic Party</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Umbrella_for_Democratic_Change" title="Umbrella for Democratic Change">Umbrella for Democratic Change</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Botswana_National_Front" title="Botswana National Front">BNF</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Botswana_People%27s_Party" title="Botswana People's Party">BPP</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Alliance_for_Progressives" title="Alliance for Progressives">AP</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Botswana_Patriotic_Front" title="Botswana Patriotic Front">Botswana Patriotic Front</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Botswana_Congress_Party" title="Botswana Congress Party">Botswana Congress Party</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Extraparliamentary</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Botswana_Movement_for_Democracy" title="Botswana Movement for Democracy">Botswana Movement for Democracy</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Botswana_Republican_Party" title="Botswana Republican Party">Botswana Republican Party</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/International_Socialist_Organization_(Botswana)" title="International Socialist Organization (Botswana)">International Socialist Organisation</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Defunct</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Botswana_Alliance_Movement" title="Botswana Alliance Movement">Botswana Alliance Movement</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Botswana_Independence_Party" title="Botswana Independence Party">Botswana Independence Party</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Botswana_Workers_Front" title="Botswana Workers Front">Botswana Workers Front</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/United_Democratic_Front_(Botswana)" title="United Democratic Front (Botswana)">United Democratic Front</a></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">MELS Movement of Botswana</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/New_Democratic_Front_(Botswana)" title="New Democratic Front (Botswana)">New Democratic Front</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow hlist" colspan="2"><div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Portal:Politics" title="Portal:Politics">Portal:Politics</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_political_parties_by_country" class="mw-redirect" title="List of political parties by country">Lists of political parties</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Politics_of_Botswana" title="Politics of Botswana">Politics of Botswana</a></li></ul> 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