UDC deploys BNF’s Hunyepa for BPP at Tati West
In an unexpected move, the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) has strategically deployed trade union activist and Botswana National Front (BNF) politician, Justin Hunyepa to the Tati West constituency at the behest of Botswana People’s Party.
The quartet of Botswana National Front (BNF), BPP, Alliance for Progressives (AP), Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) and Botswana People’s Party together constitute the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UC) coalition. The flurry of activities by the UDC partners is in aid of the general elections anticipated in October this year. The deployment of Hunyepa follows the unexpected dropping out from the Tati West constituency race by the former chairman of the BPP and now vice president of BPP, Professor Philip Bulawa due to ill health. Reportedly, the Professor, who joined the BPP from the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) some two years back, had been unwell for some time leading to his decision to step down from the general election race envisaged this October. Speaking to The Midweek Sun, the Professor confirmed that he will indeed be replaced by Hunyepa as candidate for Tati
West. “It should however be noted that, I remain a member of the BPP central committee,” Bulawa said.
In an interview, Hunyepa confirmed the arrangement they have with the BPP which he said was endorsed by the UDC coalition partners. “Indeed, although the Tati West constituency has been allocated to the BPP, I have been deployed by the UDC to contest on behalf of the party and the coalition. I have been on the ground for some days now and I am on the ground as we speak. Further, we have constituted a campaign team,” Hunyepa said. He noted that his decision to stand in for the BPP has been welcomed by all the coalition partners. For Professor Bulawa, Hunyepa’s ‘membership’ of the BPP is a big deal for the struggling party. “His coming into the party will transform the party,” Bulawa, who was instrumental in the ‘recruitment’ of Hunyepa to stand for the BPP, said. “He is someone who I have known for a very long time. Hunyepa is a resilient leader who is not defined by controversy,” Bulawa added.