To convene congress or not to, UDC ponders
The delay by the coalition leadership to call for an elective congress has been seen by some within the UDC as a delay to democratise the movement. UDC is currently made up of Botswana Congress Party ( BCP), Botswana National Front ( BNF) and the Botswana People’s Party ( BPP). Impeccable sources within the UDC National Executive Committee ( NEC) have revealed that there are some who are against holding of the elective congress.
“Amongst a number of resolutions that emerged from the UDC NEC meeting held in Palapye on the 5th December 2020, On the question of an elective congress, it was resolved that this matter be put on hold until after the conclusion of Talks with other opposition parties. It is only then that a decision will be made regarding the holding of elections or not before the 2024 General Election,” Umbrella for Democratic Change ( UDC) Head of Communications, Moeti Mohwasa said early this week in a statement.
The UDC is expected to commence
talks with other opposition parties, Alliance for Progressives ( AP) and Botswana Patriotic Front.
Opposition cooperation talks have in the past taken a lot of time to conclude, with the thorny issue of constituencies and wards allocation delaying the process. There are fears that with the impending talks between the UDC, AP and BPF in the whole mist of COVID- 19, the UDC members might go into the 2024 general election without elected office bearers for their coalition. The UDC is currently run through the Umbrella Negotiating Team ( UNT) as its NEC. The running of the UDC through the UNT, according to sources could have far reaching implications, as those at the helm are not democratically elected although they have critical and sweeping powers in the running of the coalition.
The question remains ‘ could the UDC be in its own permanent State of Emergency?’ The UDC, ahead of the 2014 and 2019 general election, did not hold any elective congress even though its Constitution calls for such in a space of three years. It is common cause that political parties in this country avoid to conduct elective congresses during the election year so as to focus on preparations for national polls. It is anticipated that with the challenges of COVID- 19, opposition talks could drag way into 2022 or even 2023, leaving less time for the coalition to hold primary elections and prepare for the general election. This means the UDC will remain run by the UNT.
According to the UDC Constitution, Clause 28: Transition clause; indicates that pending the first meeting of the National Congress, the current Umbrella Negotiating Team, which comprises Presidents of the Parties, Secretary Generals and one more negotiating officer per party and three ( 3) out of the five ( 5) Conveners of the Negotiation Process, shall have on behalf of the Umbrella, the power to exercise any power vested in any structure of the Party. This shall include deciding on an interim leadership structure/ model for the Umbrella before the inaugural National Congress as well as regulate processes of actualising the structure/ model.
The constitution stipulates however that during the National Congress, the interim leadership of the Umbrella shall not replace the powers of the National Congress as enunciated in the Constitution. According to Section 28.1 of the Constitution, the power and force of the Transitional Clause shall expire at a National Congress of the Umbrella, where election of National Office Bearers in terms of the constitution will be undertaken.
Amongst a number of resolutions that emerged from the UDC NEC meeting held in Palapye on the 5th December 2020, On the question of an elective congress, it was resolved that this matter be put on hold until after the conclusion of Talks with other opposition parties