AP cautioned against factionalism
Political analyst Lesole Machacha says the Alliance for Progressives (AP) leadership should not take lightly issues surrounding the party because they may lead to the formation of a splinter party. Some members of AP who are not in agreement with the party leadership’s decision to dump cooperation talks with the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) and the Botswana Labour Party (BLP) have defied the party.
This has caused tensions in the party and some members have started attacking their party openly on social media and even holding press conferences in support of the BCP. The AP announced its withdrawal from the new coalition last month that it had last year entered into with the BCP and the BLP).
“If the AP leadership does not address its members on what happened during the talks then it might find its party being weakened by disgruntled members. Whenever there is disagreement, there are always some people who will support those who are in or not in agreement. Therefore, it is imperative for the AP leadership to address the matter or deal with the elephant in the house.
Again, there is a wrong culture in our opposition politics that whenever one is not agreeing with their party leadership, then that group could go and form another party or address the media. This culture is completely wrong because the country will end up having too many political parties. Why can’t they join existing ones?” Machacha said.
He said the AP is headed for factionalism or break up if it does not check how the current decision has affected members. The political analyst said at times, what causes members to be unhappy is the issue of changing alliances every year of elections. Machacha further said the ruling party, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), is always taking advantage of the opposition fights, which usually happen 10 months before elections.
He said the BDP capitalises on the failure of opposition leaders to agree on even small issues. In addition, Machacha said the BDP members, even if they do not agree with their leadership, do not act like the opposition members. However, the AP chairperson Pius Mokgware dismissed issues that the party is splitting or is on the verge of breaking up and rather he claimed that those who are not in agreement with party leadership decisions are only six.
“It has to be clear that Sedirwa Kgoroba, who is currently leading that team, is not our member and he resigned from the AP last month. The ones who are supporting him are just six in number.
This is a small number and our members know the reason why we had to withdraw from the new coalition that we wanted to form. It was quite clear that the BCP wanted to take advantage of us. The party will be going to its national policy form during the July holidays and members will be fully informed about the decision taken by the party leadership. As party leaders, members should allow us to lead them,” Mokgware said.
Still on the matter, Mokgware said they are going to take action against their members who are attacking the party openly. The AP chairperson said their party is not going to allow indiscipline and if one wants to quit, he or she is free to do so.
He said the AP has a clear code of conduct that binds everyone who is a member and it does not exclude anyone. He said they are not going to tolerate any member to keep on soiling the name of the party. Additionally, he said there are some members who were against their cooperation with the BCP but they never acted in the manner that others are doing. He said a few individuals would not make them change their decision as the AP leadership.