Opposition cooperation model a hard nut to crack
BCP, AP, BLP downplay cooperation discord
Opposition coalition negotiators, Alliance for Progressives ( AP), Botswana Congress Party ( BCP) and the Botswana Labour Party ( BLP) have played down allegations of a possible fallout.
Since last week it was reported that the trio could not agree on the model to be used for the coming 2024 general election. BCP is said to have demanded for a merger and the AP contended against the model preferring a Pact instead. BLP is said to have also supported a Pact. AP has been resolute since its formation in 2017 that as an Alliance it will not join any other party or merge but would rather settle for other models of cooperation.
AP and BCP have been in talks since the fallout between the BCP and other contracting partners in the Umbrella for Democratic Change ( UDC).
The BCP decided it will represent itself in the cooperation talks and not appear under the UDC bloc with Botswana National Front ( BNF) and Botswana People’s Party ( BPP). The soured relationship has seen the BCP opting to leave the UDC and focus on relations with the AP.
The BCP is expected to officially leave the UDC next week. However, those close to the developments at the negotiating table with the AP and BLP, say the BCP is likely to jump ship at the end of February after finalising the talks with their counterparts. While the trio could not dismiss that they had a deadlock on the cooperation model, the parties this week released a joint statement indicating that a model has been agreed to.
They have noted the concerns regarding failure to give updates on the negotiations. The parties have been under a hailstorm of criticism for not giving updates on negotiations while there have been reports of disagreements on the cooperation model. The three parties had for some time gone silent. This week the trio said, “we also appreciate that Batswana are anxious to know the way forward and for this reason we would like to apologise. “We wish to inform and assure the nation, and our members that the Talks are in motion, with the three negotiating partners having already decided on the model of cooperation.
“We are anticipating the constituency allocation exercise to be concluded by the end of February 2023. We note the importance of this project to Batswana.” The three parties have revealed that they now want to make the process participatory as much as possible. While in the middle of the talks, the three parties are also expected to agree on a candidate to contest the expected Bosele Ward by- election in the Gaborone Bonnington North Constituency following the demise of the area councillor recently. The by- election will also be a test on the cooperation and support among the three opposition parties. While the BLP is new, the BCP is working on its options regarding its membership and the party has indicated that the first option could be to exit the UDC.
On the other hand, the AP has experienced its fair share of internal squabbles which resulted in one of its National Executive Committee members dumping the party. Last week AP Publicity Secretary Maotho Segotso resigned from her position and the party allegedly over failure by the party leadership to agree on certain demands to be tabled before the negotiating teams.