Boko, Saleshando exchanges

Mmegi

BClash of egos and a difference in ideologies are what some people have used to describe the now strained relationship between the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) president Duma Boko and his suspended right hand man Dumelang Saleshando. The feud between the two surely made headlines this year. Staffer wrote a series of Boko-Saleshando exchanges, which shaped one of the biggest fall-outs in opposition circles

esides President Mokgweetsi Masisi and former president Ian Khama issues, this was one of the most talked about exchanges of the year.

Our political coverage this year in general offered insight and analysis but below is a list of articles I wrote since Boko and Saleshando decided to take their fight to a public ring. This was among the content that kept the momentum going.

We can’t work with unbelievers – Saleshando After being forced to apologise for the statements he had allegedly made against the UDC leadership in the public, it was Salehsando who first took the fight to Boko at BCP’s Bobirwa victory celebration back in May. Saleshando was quick to indicate that as the BCP they cannot work with unbelievers.

“O seka wa tshwaraganela jokwe le ba ba sa dumeleng,” he said. This was before

Saleshando was suspended alongside his Secretary-General, Goretetse Kekgonegile at the Botswana Congress Party (BCP). At the time, the UDC was awaiting a formal apology from the two. ‘They are twomouthed giants’ Tired of taking Saleshando’s blows, Boko and the UDC NEC took a decision to suspend Saleshando and Kekgonegile in Palapye. During a media briefing, Boko could not take it up anymore as he labelled the duo ‘two-mouthed giants’ who went behind the UDC’s back.

“What Saleshando and Kekgonegile did has put down the UDC. What they did was equal to standing on the streets and ridiculing the UDC. Most of these demeaning words go to the same voters we want voting for us in 2024.

This is unacceptable because we are the campaigners of the UDC who ask for people’s votes and we want to show Batswana the worth of the UDC,” he said.

Saleshando ‘betrays’ Boko For a moment it looked like the two had buried the hatchet leading up to the BNF Elective Congress and BCP National Conference in July.

At this juncture, the BCP had already suspended five MPs who took part in an exercise which saw Saleshando replaced by Dithapelo Keorapetse as Leader of Opposition (LoO). When Boko posted a Facebook picture of himself and Saleshando in what seemed like a fruitful meeting, pro opposition cooperation followers were excited because the two had talked about a lot of issues among them lifting the suspensions of the five BCP legislators and Saleshando. But after retaining his BNF presidency few days later Boko told a different story and revealed that Saleshando betrayed him.

He said the betrayal was shocking as he heard that things had taken an ugly turn in Mahalapye where the BCP National Conference took a decision to expel the five MPs from the party with immediate effect. Boko deceived me – Saleshando The feud was now gaining momentum and it was time for Saleshando to put more fuel in the rivalry as he labelled Boko a ‘cruel and wayward president’.

Speaking during a BCP rally in Selebi-Phikwe West, Saleshando revealed that Boko deceived him. He pointed out that Boko

“wants ‘chekwane’ change, not regime change”.

Saleshando said

Boko deceived him before the

2019 General Elections only to take the UDC name, colours and logo and to register them as his private property.

The Maun West legislator added, if people vote for either the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) or UDC, they will be looking for unruly people. “Wa itlhophela gore a o tsaa chekwane kana o tsaa chekwane e ntsha. A o tsaa Masisi ka BDP kana o tsaa Masisinyana ka UDC.

To refuse to hold elections by Boko is a sin, it is a hindrance to democracy. To take that decision alone as Boko, is a bad omen. Boko is running the UDC like the biblical sinful cities Sodom and Gomorrah,” Saleshando said.

‘Saleshando was already failing as LoO’ In September, Boko said Saleshando was already failing to execute his duties as LoO long before he was removed. Speaking during a UDC National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting with constituents in Phikwe, Boko said opposition MPs were dissatisfied with the way Saleshando was leading in Parliament.

“You can’t represent UDC in Parley only for you to come back and insult the same organisation you’re supposed to be standing for,” he added. As the year wraps up, we should brace ourselves for more drama in not just the opposition bloc but the whole political scene. Next year will be the last year before the general election so expect more twists and turns as it is a year of primary elections as well.

There are no permanent enemies in politics, so both Boko and Saleshando who made our news headlines this year, might become friends next year so no one knows really.

Some political spats have often led us to thinking they could lead to physical combat but we are not interested in none of that, they should settle for rhetorical blows.

As the election year nears, politicians should be able to take a pie to the face, while keeping their cool. After all, the political game is said to be equivalent of a food fight where the winner is the one who emerges least covered in splatter. COVID-19 has accelerated the shift towards online platforms but a demand for premium content has always kept us on our toes as we aim to serve our readers.

Every year end we always like to reflect the remarkable tie that we have built with readers on our digital platforms as they join

many of our print subscribers.