Big fall out
.... Boko, Khama at loggerheads
Duo clash on model for opposition cooperation
Khama wants Pact with UDC, other opposition parties while Boko wants BPF to affiliate
Khama wants rotational opposition presidency
The model is yet to be discussed by opposition parties- Khama
The political cozy relationship between Botswana Patriotic Front ( BPF) Patron and aspiring president Ian Khama and leader of the Botswana National Front ( BNF) and Umbrella for Democratic Change ( UDC) Duma Boko has allegedly hit rock bottom.
The fall out between the two leaders, according to insiders, stems from their differences on a working relationship between the BPF and UDC. Boko and Khama have supported each other and worked on uniting the two parties ahead of the 2019 general election. While many in the opposition despised working with Khama, who is the past immediate leader of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party ( BDP), Boko fought hard to ensure Khama was embraced in the opposition ranks towards the 2019 general election.
Now things are said to have taken a new twist as the two leaders cannot agree on the cooperation model for the 2024 general election. While Boko calls for the affiliation of BPF in UDC, Khama on the other hand, is pushing for a pact model. The BPF is expected to either endorse or reject a decision taken by its National Executive Committee ( NEC) to join the UDC. The BPF took a decision to join the UDC last year and irked many within the party even at NEC level.
Botswana Guardian has established that Khama has maintained that there should be a Pact Model in place and the leadership, especially the presidency of the pact should be rotational among contracting partners. This is said to have not sat well with Boko, who believes the Pact Model will not deliver power and has the potential to dent the UDC brand if not handled correctly. Khama, on the other hand, believes pact gives all parties equal power sharing and will deal with the contention of oneparty clinging to power. The joining of the UDC decision by the BPF NEC further divided the party which has never found peace post the 2019 general election. Insiders told this publication that the decision also divided the NEC as those who were aligned to Samson Guma Moyo were strong believers of the BPF joining the UDC. Moyo has since resigned from the BPF following a heated argument with Khama and his faction during a NEC meeting last month. The fight for the appropriate working model with the UDC resulted in suspensions and counter suspensions by both factions. The warring faction would late last year call for a ceasefire but the bickering resurfaced
this year. The UDC is currently made up of Botswana National Front ( BNF) and Botswana People’s Party ( BPP) while the Botswana Congress Party ( BCP) has announced its departure. The BPF, while it has joined through a decision of the NEC is yet to have the decision ratified by an elective congress. The BPF is however represented in the UDC NEC and has thrown its weight behind the UDC especially in by- elections. The UDC is currently courting the Alliance for Progressives ( AP) for a working relation for the 2024 general election. AP has pulled out of the cooperation talks with BCP and Botswana Labour Party ( BLP) after some alleged disagreement on certain issues of concern. Sources within BPF have revealed that, now with key players in Moyo’s faction out of the picture, the Khama led faction will have the UDC eating from its palm. The faction is said to now be in control of the party and will stop at nothing to ensure that the upcoming congress rejects the joining of the UDC and opt for the Pact Model. It is alleged that the pro Khama faction within the BPF has already canvassed for support with close to 90 percent of assurance that the party members will support the Pact Model with other parties, including the UDC.
Interestingly, having the control of the party, there is a likelihood that Khama could become the president of he BPF with Moyo out of the picture as he was seen to be a high contender for the presidency. A source within the Khama faction told this publication that the party has cleansed itself of people who were sent by “external forces to destabilise the party”. The source who is part of the NEC and is close to the development revealed that Khama will be president of the BPF
and their party will not join UDC but will work with opposition parties through a Pact Model. The division within the BPF is also likely to see the party go into its congress this week with parallel delegates. Two camps have been holding parallel meetings to address the party members ahead of the congress. One camp led by Khama while the other led by party president Biggie Butale whom according to the party Secretary General, Tshekedi Khama, is not the president after he ‘ resigned’ during a NEC meeting last month. Butale has however insisted that he is the substantive president as he has not submitted any written resignation in line with the BPF Constitution, arguing that he only told the meeting that he would resign but has since not taken that decision. Boko is also at loggerheads with his central committee after he reversed Central Committee decision to remove UDC Spokesperson, Moeti Mohwasa as one of the representatives of the BNF at the UDC NEC. Mohwasa is said to be retained at UDC strategically to drive the UDC brand, establishment of UDC structures and driving the UDC direct members recruitment.
Contacted, Khama denied any fall out with Boko. He said they have not had a fall out on anything. The BPF Patron stated that the model of cooperation with other parties will hopefully be discussed and agreed between them before going public. “The method of cooperation between the BPF and UDC will be the subject of discussion at the coming congress which could include other parties,” said Khama. At press time, Boko had not responded to our enquiries on the alleged fall out.