UDC rally cancellation exposes holes in Umbrella
The postponement of the Umbrella for Democratic Change’s (UDC) rally which was to be hosted in Mmathubudukwane over the weekend has exposed holes in the umbrella. It has since come to the fore that the Botswana People’s Party (BPP) leadership was not amused as they only found out just three hours before the scheduled start of the rally that it had been postponed.
Even though the constituency has been allocated to the Botswana National Front (BNF) for the UDC, the BPP is said to be fancying its chances in the constituency led by its party secretary-general Nono Kgafela-Mokoka. The Monitor has since established that BPP members are actively recruiting in the constituency, with some of them earmarking council seats.
According to some irked members of the BPP who spoke to this publication in Mmathubudukwane, the BNF is uncomfortable with the BPP’s growth.
“We were shocked that they did not even inform our leaders on time about the postponement while they knew about the funerals earlier. They are mistreating us because our party is fast growing in this area. We had our indoor meeting with our president and he was to address a rally. They should have let him know to give him the respect he deserves,” a BPP member bemoaned.
For her part, Kgafela-Mokoka said they were unhappy with the turn of events. “I was in the constituency since Friday as we also had to prepare for our BPP indoor meeting that would be held before the rally. I am shocked that we only learnt at 11am that the rally had been postponed. This is despite that I was in the constituency and also that I and president Motlatsi Molapise sit on the UDC National Executive Committee. We, however, would not jump the gun and make conclusions until we are briefed,” she said.
She added she believed the said three funerals were not reason enough to postpone the rally as she had attended two on Saturday while one was billed for Sunday.
Kgafela-Mokoka, despite all that is said, said they as a party are not fighting BNF, but have been supportive of it.
“The BPP started in the south of Botswana and we have been on a vigorous campaign to recruit and build structures. A lot of people from the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) are joining the BPP, they know it from way back and we are bringing it back to them. This has nothing to do with us wanting a BNF constituency. It is important that there is another strong party to assist the BNF as now we are no longer with the BCP. We are not just busy here, even at many other southern constituencies,” she said.
Kgafela-Mokoka said despite having heard of some issues between theirs and BNF’s foot soldiers with blunt claims of sabotage, they as BPP leadership would look into the issues and resolve them amicably. She further stated that even though she is ready to contest in the elections, she has never thought of doing so in Mochudi East. Meanwhile, BNF Mochudi East Constituency’s Mompati Motlabe issued a statement that circulated late on Saturday announcing the cancellation of the rally due to reasons beyond their control.
He further apologised for the short notice. His colleague in the constituency, Obakeng Matlou said they had postponed the rally due to some funerals in Mmathubudukwane and some other factors. He said they had informed the party leadership of the cancellation as soon as they could. He further denied any knowledge of wranglings with the Botswana Patriotic Front counterparts.
We were shocked that they did not even inform our leaders on time about the postponement while they knew about the funerals earlier