AP faction numbers to boost the BCP
● AP faction eyes BCP ● Gaolathe violated what we believed in as AP- Kgoroba ● We can’t join UDC because its Boko’s personal property’
Even though they are still sceptical about which political party to join, the Alliance for Progressives (AP) faction led by former Mogoditshane legislator Sedirwa Kgoroba is clearly eyeing Botswana Congress Party (BCP). This comes after BCP and ally Botswana Labour Party (BLP) were recently dumped by the AP leadership in their cooperation talks, a decision that has divided the Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) splinter party.
During a press conference held yesterday in Gaborone, Kgoroba confirmed that together with a few others they have split from AP because the party leadership has decided to join the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC).
He stated that they are yet to negotiate with other AP members who still believe in the ‘New Botswana’ and they will decide which party to join.
“We still consider ourselves as a movement, but I can assure you that we cannot join the UDC or Botswana Democratic Party (BDP). We believe within the realms of the AP there are several others who share the same view as we do but are at a crossroads as to where to go, how to go, and with whom to go. UDC is Duma Boko’s personal property and we have seen it (UDC) manifest into a dictatorship, undemocratic and authoritarian organisation under the stewardship of Boko,” he said.
As for possibilities of joining the ruling party, Kgoroba said they have seen the BDP fail the country beyond a reasonable doubt.
He said anybody who still believes there is something that can be redeemed from the current BDP, automatically will not qualify to be a part of them.
Kgoroba stated that the decision by the AP leadership to join the UDC is in total violation of AP congress resolution. He said at their congress it was stated very clearly that the AP should form a coalition with like-minded parties.
The former Mogoditshane legislator said the AP congress made it very clear that the UDC is out of bounds because it is not like-minded. However, he stated that only another congress resolution can change that directive not other structures of the party.
“AP leadership is now practising what their new friend, UDC is practising by transgressing on governance.
It is not surprising though, gatwe show me your friends I will tell you who you are. AP new friends ba tshwana le bone, rona we will not associate le batho bago nna jalo. If it suits Ndaba Gaolathe, a tsamae le magodu a gagwe. Kana gongwe ntse re bapile le batho re sa ba tlhaloganye. The AP we belonged to was an organisation for the people, not personal property belonging to Gaolathe thus we will not be part and parcel of an organisation having a coalition with an individual,” Kgoroba said.
He said the Gaolathe-led people are saying UDC is popular and loved by people.
He said Gaolathe’s AP is encouraging people to join the UDC with the hope that by winning the general election all problems will be fixed. Kgoroba further blamed UDC president Boko for AP’s losses during the general election in 2019.
“Boko is the reason why we lost so many of our people when he made sure, he destroyed the BMD.
Boko is the reason why, the BMD which Gomolemo Motswaledi gave so much for, and died for, got destroyed. Boko is the reason why Gomolemo’s legacy was brought to a halt.
Boko is the reason why, to this day, Motswaledi’s report on the cause of his death was never availed,” he said. He added that the UDC is undemocratic, authoritarian and corrupt and does not show any signs of reform, if anything it has gotten worse.