BCP calls Boko a dictator, BDP says opposition is confused
While opposition leaders are dillydallying and trying to be subtle about the divisions within the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), vicious campaign bulldogs are tearing Duma Boko’s throat apart.
When Bophirima Ward byelection candidates were officially unveiled over the weekend ahead of the elections scheduled for this week, Botswana Congress Party (BCP) in particular, made it known that they are fed up with a dictator that is Boko. The Botswana National Front (BNF) president who also doubles as UDC leader was called all sorts of names. He was labelled petty, selfish, cruel, a liar and jealous.
BCP faithful, Vain Mamela was brutal in his speech, saying Boko likes to shine alone. “He is a very jealous man. He wants everything to be about him. He has no ‘we’ in his vocabulary, it is only ‘I’ when he talks,” Mamela said.
Dr Mpho Pheko, who contested the parliamentary seat for Gaborone Central constituency under the UDC ticket in the 2019 elections and lost to Botswana Democratic Party (BDP)’s Tumisang Healy, called Boko a dictator.
“I want to speak about leadership highlighting dictatorship. A leader who does not understand democracy is dangerous for any political party. We are shocked that he went as far as Gantsi to speak lies that there were some meetings when there has not been any. I beg you BNF members not to praise a leader who refuses to meet with others and talk,” she appealed. Alliance for Progressives (AP) youth league vice president Legodile Mothibi said they have no time for thieves. “Imagine giving Boko and Guma Moyo power, what will happen?”
Mothibi noted that Boko has at one point hinted that he helped BCP president Dumelang Saleshado to succeed in his political career and he wonders what kind of leader does such. Observers actually expressed shock that the BCP rally was more focused on bashing the UDC President than selling their opponent against that of the ruling party. Many are now worried about the turmoil in the opposition block.
Adding fuel to the fire that is engulfing the opposition, Gaborone City Council (GCC) Deputy Mayor Lotty Manyapeza of the ruling Botswna Democratic Party (BDP) ridiculed the UDC as a party that does not know if it is coming or going. “Those people are disorganised. Boko is the only man in action. They will soon even change how we pray, instead of saying ‘our father who art in heaven,’ they will say ‘our father in Tlokweng.’ “Dumelang was here yesterday, crying, saying he is leaving the UDC. The Umbrella has holes now, it is in tatters and he labelled Boko dishonest.” Manyapeza said opposition parties are now talking in tongues after praising their leader in the past, stating that they called him DGB when he insulted and called “us” names like Rankurata and Magogajase. “In recent times Dumelang bought blue socks, tie, jackets, shirts and caps, swearing by the UDC, AND now he is making a U-turn. What kind of nonsense is that?”
The BDP motor mouth did not spare the BNF in his attack on the opposition parties, saying it would be irresponsible to give power to a BNF party that has proved to be not accountable and trustworthy.
“From as far back as the time of Dr (Kenneth) Koma, people were told to make contributions towards the construction of Kopano House. During the leadership of (Otsweletse) Moupo, people continued to make contributions for Kopano House, and now during Boko’s time, contributions were made, yet not even the first brick to the structure has been laid.
How do you trust such people with a finance ministry and taxes of Batswana to manage, when they could not even account for the money contributed to investigated Gomolemo Motswaledi’s death?” he asked rhetorically. He added that it was pointless to vote opposition because no one will support them. Majority of councillors at GCC, he said, are BDP. “Who will Peter Mogapi talk to? We are many. Even if you vote him numbers won’t change, they are even divided to make matters worse.”