New student coalition emerges at UB
AP, BCP and SPF aligned formations isolate BNF protégé
The opposition coalition at the University of Botswana (UB) known as Moono Wa Baithuti has only MASS-BNF as an affiliate after the expelled University of Botswana Congress for Democracy (UBCD) joined hands with other student formations, the UB Progressives and the Student Patriotic Front (SPF) in a new coalition.
Information shared with The Midweek Sun by Eric Karabelo indicate that his organisation, University of Botswana Congress for Democracy (UBCD), of which he is the chairperson, the Student Patriotic Front (SPF), as well as the UB Progressives, have been in talks that have led to the formation of a new coalition the United Student Movement (USM), which will be contesting the 2022/2023 UB SRC elections.
The United Student Movement was officially launched at a press conference on Tuesday. In a letter titled: ‘BNF isolated’ Karabelo informed students and its well-wishers that the working relationship UBCD had with MASS-BNF under the ambit of Moono Wa Baithuti
had come to a painful end. “It must be noted that UBCD has been a bonafide member of Moono Wa Baithuti since 2015 until last year when the MASSBNF decided to muscle it out,” says part of the letter.
According to the letter, in 2021, the MASS-BNF excluded the UBCD from all Moono Wa Baithuti activities including even denying UBCD the opportunity to contest 2021/2022 UB SRC elections. “Notwithstanding our noble efforts at reconciliation, the MASSBNF declared at a Moono Wa Baithuti
meeting held on 21 October 2021 that MASS-BNF has taken a decision to expel UBCD from Moono Wa Baithuti,
leaving MASS-BNF as the sole member of Moono Wa Baithuti,” says the letter.
Karabelo said in the letter that the reasons for the expulsion have not been communicated to UBCD and all efforts at reversing the expulsion and have the two student organisations continue to work together have been thwarted. “The expulsion of UBCD is baseless, irrational and a threat to the spirit of the much-needed opposition unity. The recent diatribe penned by Moono Wa Baithuti sealed our fate as it showed that MASS-BNF are not interested in working with UBCD and are even boastful of ‘decisively dealing‘ with us.
“In view of the foregoing, we urge our members to not lose heart, remain vigilant and take pride in their brand. We further assure them that UBCD will participate in the upcoming SRC elections,” the communique further advises.
Confirming the cooperation between the UBCD and the UB-Progressives, a communique from the UB – Progressives said that the organisation has since held coalition talks with UBCD of the BCP and SPF of the BPF in regards to the 2022/23 UB SRC elections. “The three student movements have collectively agreed to work a new platform, a new student opposition coalition within the University of Botswana.”
The UDC Head of Communications, Moeti Mohwasa could not comment saying he was not conversant with the on-goings at the university. He referred this reporter to either Nelson Ramaotwana or Kago Mokotedi, whose phones were not accessible by press time. Secretary General of the AP, Phenyo Butale is not that worried about the lack of unity among the UB youth formations at the university.
Strongly disagreeing with the notion that the BNF is isolated, Butale said coalition politics do not just happen overtime and smoothly. “Nobody is isolated. We have agreed as opposition to work together.
Coalition politics requires a lot of effort. My belief is that, sooner than later, we will achieve common ground. The BNF will join,” said Butale.