We will never work with the AP-BCP We don’t mind working with the BCP in the future-AP

The Alliance for Progressives (AP) says it will not mind working with the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) going forward, but the latter has made it clear that the chapter is closed now that the Ndaba Gaolathe-led party is forging another path with the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC).

On the other hand, the BCP was left shocked and disappointed recently when AP walked away from their months long cooperation talks citing trust issues amongst others.

The duo were also in talks with Botswana Labour Party (BLP) but it was only the AP and BCP who ended up deadlocked on seven constituencies for four months, an impasse that ultimately broke the camel’s back.

“As long as they become part of the UDC we cannot work with the AP because we all know the UDC terms. Working with the AP which is part of the UDC is more like working with the UDC and everybody knows our position when it comes to the lack of governance within the UDC. There is no way we can do that because all the things we have suggested to the UDC have been rejected,” BCP’s secretary for economic affairs, Sennye Obuseng told the media during a press briefing yesterday.

He said what makes matters worse is that the same AP which was a potential ally not so long ago has changed its beliefs and foundations. Obuseng added that before all this they knew that there were only two parties that believed in good democratic governance and they were the BCP and the AP.

“We were ululating at the time and we took almost 12 months working behind the scenes trying to align these two parties. We believed that these were the parties that believed in clean and proper governance. Now that they have crossed to the other side where they preach regime change at any cost there is no way we can work with them. We are not like that,” he highlighted.

Meanwhile, AP president Gaolathe recently told the media that the negotiations with the BCP and BLP have closed but it doesn’t mean they cannot sit with them on another table.

“By withdrawing from the BCP and BLP talks doesn’t mean on the other side of the river we cannot work together with BCP. Our wish is for all opposition political parties to work together regardless of the model,” Gaolathe said.

He added it is still possible to work with the BCP should it remain in the UDC therefore he has encouraged AP members to avoid attacking BCP members.

Gaolathe outlined that there is no one in the AP who has expressed that they won’t work with the BCP no matter what.