UDC MEMBERS ASSURED OF HAPPY DAYS AHEAD
Member of Parliament for Selibe Phikwe West,
Dithapelo Keorapetse, has assured the Umbrella for
Democratic Change (UDC) members of a better future ahead following a weekend retreat by the Umbrella leadership.
UDC President, Duma Boko, together with party Vice President, Dumelang
Saleshando, took a weekend retreat in Mann and the Okavango Delta, which took many by surprise as the two had been rumoured to have fallen
out. However, Keorapetse, who is also the Botswana Congress
Party's Publicity Secretary, said that they were actually happy and hopeful for a better
future after that retreat. He said that although nothing offi
cial was discussed, the meeting will strengthen their movement. "Nothing official was
discussed, it was a personal meeting of two leaders coming
together to strengthen their relationship for the sake of the majority UDC members."
Keorapetse refused to be drawn much into what was discussed save to say good things are coming. Meanwhile, Keora
petse dismissed allegations that the BCP, especially it's President, were mobilising
to have the UDC merger topic discussed and passed at the conference. A concerned party member told this publication
that the BCP had wanted a resolution to be passed, requiring
all parties under the UDC to merge and later go for an elec
tive congress. "They think that by taking that ron te, Sale shan
do will then win and become
party president," he said. Keorapetse, however, parried away the insinuation.
"That is not true. After the State of the Party keynote speech by the Party President,
Saleshando, the Secretary General and Treasurer will
present reports. Thereafter all these three papers will be discussed at the Commissions
to generate resolutions. The expectation, because this was
done several times before, is for the party members to affirm the BCP position in the UDC and/ or to confirm that
the party remains part of the UDC for 2024 elections."
Keorapetse explained that the mandate to negotiate whatever the party prefers will be given to its representa
tives at the UDC National Executive Committee.