To leave or not to leave
It might take more years than expected before the Umbrella for Democratic Change ( UDC) contracting partner, Botswana Congress Party ( BCP) accepts its fate within the coalition, heal and move forward.
The party can only heal and move forward, by accepting the status quo or jumping ship. While the party is said to be mulling to leave the umbrella, its Secretary General Goretetse Kekgonegile has categorically proclaimed that they are not going anywhere. These sentiments are not coming out for the first time but were expressed by the party leader, Dumelang Saleshando in 2021 when he indicated that it was time the public knew that all is not well within the UDC, especially its National Executive Committee. In July last year, Saleshando who doubles as Umbrella for Democratic Change ( UDC) Deputy President, admitted that there are differences within the coalition.
He said it is time that the UDC leadership and its members acknowledge and appreciate that there are problems within the UDC. UDC is made up of BCP, Botswana National Front ( BNF) and Botswana People’s Party ( BPP).
According to Saleshando, once the UDC acknowledges that there are problems, it would be able to diagnose the problem and have it resolved. Saleshando pointed out that he is not going to agree with those who want the UDC to portray a good picture of the coalition, while it is now in the public domain that there are differences within the National Executive Committee ( NEC) and members at large.
“We no longer trust each other within the UDC. Let us acknowledge that there are differences and not bury our heads in the sand. Once we acknowledge that, we will be able to fix things within the coalition,” he said.
Botswana Guardian has established that the BCP grudge with the UDC, in particular its leader Advocate Duma Boko, dates back to 2019. Advocate Boko, who has come under heavy criticism from the BCP is said to have promised that the UDC will do away with the Transition Clause and call for an elective congress that will allow for contracting partners to contest for any position of the NEC. A new interesting discovery is that the BCP leadership allegedly uncovered information
that Adv Boko in his shadow cabinet, had reserved only two seats for BCP members. The seats were reserved for Saleshando and Selibe- Phikwe West Dithapelo Keorapetse. This is said to have infuriated the BCP leadership who believed should the UDC have taken power, they could by now be watching from the sideline. This is one of the contributing factors that questions Adv Boko’s leadership style and governance within the coalition. It is alleged that the BCP is of the view that they are not wanted in the coalition and partners want to frustrate them so they leave the UDC. According to sources, this is one of the reasons that made the party’s faction that was against the joining of the UDC, ahead of both the 2014 and 2019 general elections to seek leadership positions in the BCP. The whole plan was to take Adv Boko headon at any given time. Currently, the new BCP Central Committee is dominated by the same faction which is against the UDC and its leader, Botswana Guardian has established. Investigations by Botswana Guardian further revealed that the Central Committee is divided as there are some disagreements on the approach towards internal matters that affect the UDC. Sources have revealed that the disagreements are the ones that have led to the leaking of confidential leadership meeting of February 2022, where the party took a stand to fight tooth and nail to get hold of Bophirima Ward in the Gaborone Bonnington South Constituency. The unprecedented conduct of the Central Committee members has caused debates within the BCP corridors on the working relationship of the current Central Committee. The party leadership is said to still be baffled by how the minutes which were shared only among themselves via email communication, reached a third party. The UDC internal fights have the potential to harm the cooperation talks with Alliance for Progressives ( AP) and Botswana Patriotic Front ( BPF) which failed to be concluded by end of last month as promised. While both the AP and BPF have indicated that they are of opposition collective, following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding for by- elections, they are currently in a dilemma on taking official positions as to whom to support for next month Bophirima Ward. The AP has officially backed BCP while the BPF, on the other hand, has indicated that it will rally behind the UDC candidate after the BCP and BNF resolve their standoff. Kekgonegile this week said the only remedy for UDC is respect for governance. He said the BCP is not going anywhere and at the same time it would not allow to be bullied. He contended that there is no proper governance which has been caused by lack of consultation by the UDC leader and his continuous taking of unilateral decisions. He pointed out that all that is been said about the BCP and its MPs is propaganda and “soon the truth will come out.” Leaked BCP minutes of February 15th 2022 chaired by party Chairperson and former MP Samuel Rantuana, regarding the Bophirima Ward stated that since there is no direction on the matter, the BCP should go all out to secure the Ward. It resolved that the party is contesting in the ward regardless of the outcome of the Joint Bye- elections Committee. “The party should pick up its fights and finish them. The BCP should sustain the momentum and go all the way out win or lose. The BCP should be ready, calculate the bigger war considering that there are issues that have been put forward in respect of MOU and other agreements.” UDC Director of Communications Moeti Mohwasa said the UDC has lately been under attack from one of its members, the BCP regarding its decision on the Bophirima by- election candidature. As a consequence of the flurry of accusations, we have been overwhelmed with questions and enquiries from the media, he said, adding that this situation, “if allowed to fester, would not assist them in growing their brand.” He explained that: “as long as they are members of and fully support the growth of the people’s project, the expectation is that they will refrain from entertaining anything that has the potential to diminish its brand equity.”
“The UDC will therefore not be responding to or entertaining questions relating to the false and unfortunate accusations that have been leveled against itself and the leadership. We have through statements issued up to now, explained and covered issues that require clarification. We would also like to appeal to our members to exercise restraint and remain focused in growing our brand. Our immediate task is to win Bophirima ward for the UDC and ensure that the BDP does not retain it nor win the 2024 General Elections. The BCP decision to compete against the UDC in the Bophirima bye election though unfortunate and regrettable, should be respected. Internecine strife won’t help us. It is worth noting that as the UDC, we are currently in the process of reviewing our constitution. The energies of those who genuinely want to make improvements to our operations and constitutional architecture should be channeled to this exercise,” he said. According the UDC spokesperson, it affords them with an opportunity to deal with their issues internally rather than in the media. “We might as well start inviting the media and the public to our meetings if we are to handle issues in this fashion,” he told this publication in an interview.
Mohwasa further explained that whatever challenges or issues they can be dealt with without throwing mud at their brand because this is the same brand that they will use in the 2024 General Elections. “The BCP is still part of us and we would like it to remain part of us. We need each other as UDC affiliates. The UDC belongs to all of us. It is the nation’s project regardless of what detractors say. All we can do in the circumstances is to ask all the UDC affiliates to behave and act in a manner that communicates commitment to growing the People’s project.”