BMD will court AP first, then UDC for opposition cooperation

We have reconciled with comrades from the AP, we believe it is time to move on and build the oppositionModubule

Botswana Movement for Democracy ( BMD) is not prepared to throw in the towel yet in its bid to court other opposition parties for possible cooperation.

While other opposition parties such as Alliance for Progressives ( AP) Botswana Patriotic Front ( BPF) and Umbrella for Democratic Change ( UDC) seem to be at an advanced stage in their cooperation, BMD is yet to communicate with them to express interest.

AP, BPF and UDC on Wednesday this week signed a Memorandum of Understanding ( MoU) on their cooperation in bye- elections. This development is expected to pave way for possible working relations in the 2024 general election.

BMD Chairman Nehemiah Modubule this week indicated that all is not lost. Modubule explained that the public should know that the BMD cannot and will not give up on the noble and great ideals of its brainchild the ‘ Umbrella’.

“We will do everything in our power to make sure that the people’s project is achieved, for without us in the opposition bloc, vote splitting will not be avoided and will be an exercise in futility,” revealed Modubule.

He said not being part of the bye- election MoU does not rule out the possibilities of working with other parties. He said BMD will support other opposition parties in any bye- election where they did not field a candidate in 2019.

“Cooperation cannot only be limited to byeelections. As the BMD we believe the ultimate goal is to remove the ruling Botswana Democratic Party ( BDP) from government in 2024.

“We will engage with the UDC but first we will be approaching the AP. This is because the AP and us used to belong together before the unfortunate events of Bobonong in 2017 that resulted in our split.

“So far we have reconciled with comrades from the AP following our fallout and we both appreciated our mistakes and believe it is time to move on and build the opposition,” said Modubule when addressing the media in Gaborone.

He explained that after engaging with the AP separately to mend fences for possible cooperation in the spirit of its founding President Gomolemo Motswaledi, they will move on and reconcile with the UDC and express their interest for cooperation.

He said the BMD unlike other parties has been a member of the UDC and has taken part in making UDC what it is today. According to Modubule in its short 10 year of existence the BMD has made tremendous impact in the political landscape of Botswana.

The chairman added that in that short space of time the BMD has lost a number of its founding members back to the ruling party, lost its founding president through an atrocious death, suffered a serious split in 2017 and lost more members to the UDC in 2019 upon expulsion from the UDC.

“All these major events interfered with the BMD’s ability to stabilise itself in the true sense of the word. The BMD therefore resolved that taking all these factors into consideration it has to concentrate its efforts in organising itself into a formidable force in the competitive struggle for political power.

“In order to achieve these goals, the BMD needs to adequately repair its damaged reputation by asserting and nurturing the party’s ideals, actively renewing our aspirations and commitment as a nation to ensure that Botswana does not wane into a failed state under our watch,” stated Modubule.

BMD Chairman, Nehemiah Modubule