INTRA-UDC WARS Moswaane worried by BCP-BPP hostility
BCP foot soldiers prepare to de-campaign him for 2024 BCP-BNF recent feud fuels anti-BPP campaign by BCP
The tiff between Botswana Peoples’ Party ( BPP) and Botswana Congress Party (BCP) in Francistown West will be much worse than in 2019.
BCP sources in the constituency feel that the BPP has been wrongly allocated Francistown West by the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) leadership. The fight over the constituency by the two parties started in the run-up to the 2019 general elections.
During the allocation process, Bo t swana Movement fo r Democracy (BMD) was allocated Maun West while BCP was given Francistown West. With BCP leader Dumelang Saleshando having no constituency to contest, the BMD offered its Maun West to BCP for Saleshando, but said it was on condition that the BCP cedes Francistown West and give it to BPP who at the time were complaining of being allocated few constituencies, and arguing that they were stronger in the Francistown region.
For the sake of Saleshando, this was done but some BCP footsoldiers protested the allocation arguing that they had a better following in the constituency than the BPP.
When BMD was expelled from the UDC, the BCP demand for the constituency became louder but to no avail. After losing the 2019 elections, BPP accused the BCP of sabotage.
In anticipation of another round of constituency allocation for the 2024 general elections, BCP remains adamant that BPP has got no business representing UDC in Francistown West because it has got no following.
The already volatile situation has no doubt been further kindled by information that former BDP legislator, Ignatius Moswaane, is set to join the BPP.
Should that happen, the principle of incumbency will work in favour of the BPP.
“The BCP has started a vigorous campaign in the constituency so that should we be denied the constituency on account of Moswaane, we will immediately launch a de-campaigning effort against him,” a BCP activist shared.
“Moswaane had better make his mind up and join the BCP. We are ready to humble him should he not,” said the BCP insider who attended an inhouse constituency meeting recently where Francistown West was one of the leading items in the agenda.
According to the source, the mobilisation campaign by the BCP has been partly ignited by the war between BCP and the Botswana National Front (BNF) which has been generously aired on social media.
“The BCP is worried by the big brother attitude of the BNF hence the need to mobilise everywhere in case the opposition project does not work out.
“We are investing more time and resources in the constituencies that were controversially allocated to the other contracting parties when we should have gotten them,” said the source.
Unconfi rmed report s indicate that BCP councillors in the constituency, will henceforth only attend Moswaane’s kgotla gatherings and not his meet and greet meetings in the constituency because according to the source, these serve the purpose of popularising the Member of Parliament (MP) who uses them to donate blankets and other goodies to the needy.
The two councillors, Kago Philime and Otsile Moses who recently joined the UDC from the BDP and were welcomed into the UDC by the UDC president, Duma Boko, are also expected to join the BCP or face the wrath of Mogobagoba as the party is popularly known.
In an interview, BCP Francistown West constituency chairman, Smart Shabani, admitted that the BCP remains disappointed by the allocation of the constituency to the BPP.
“BCP members are still bringing this issue even at meetings. They feel the matter was not properly handled. The members feel they were not properly consulted and their complaints not adequately addressed. To this day, they still feel hard- done,” said Shabani.
He is hopeful that the parties are mature enough to handle such matters. For his part, Moswaane remains adamant that joining the BPP or BCP should not be the priority issue.
“We need not destroy this project by being overly partisan as UDC. I have met some of the people who are peddling this goal and they understand my position. They understand that even if I were to join the BPP, I will be part of the effort to help the opposition unseat the BDP in Francistown East which is the only constituency in Francistown still in the hands of the BDP.
“My efforts will also bear fruit in the Francistown region in general. We need to look at the bigger picture,” said Moswaane.
The UDC allocated Francistown East to the BCP in 2019 and the expectation is that the status quo will remain.
“I am not concerned about the rumour because I believe it is insignificant,” said Moswaane.