BNF reviews UDC constitution
To present its position to other contracting partners
Botswana National Front ( BNF) Central Committee has resolved that a thorough scrutiny of the Umbrella for Democratic Change ( UDC) Constitution has to be made.
BNF Secretary General Moeti Mohwasa revealed that the BNF’s position is that the Constitution has to be aligned with the supposed nature and character that the UDC should be.
He explained that the UDC is a vehicle for opposition parties to wrestle power from the ruling Botswana Democratic Party ( BDP). According to Mohwasa a team has been set up that will look at the Constitution which was rejected by the Registrar of Societies.
“Once the team has dealt with the Constitution it will be presented to the central committee for discussion. It would then be presented before the UDC for other partners to also have their input. “We are going to look at the Constitution ( of the UDC) and ensure it reflects what the UDC, we believe, should look like. This will be the position of the BNF and we believe our colleagues will also present their suggestions,” Mohwasa told the media this week. UDC is currently made up of BNF, Botswana Congress Party ( BCP) and Botswana Peoples Party ( BPP). Since late last year all has not been well within the UDC especially between the two leading opposition parties BNF and BCP. The infighting which was once dismissed by the National Executive Committee ( NEC) of the UDC has now come to play out in the open with both parties accusing each other of sabotage and leaking confidential information to the media and detractors. Key among the main causes for the infighting is the holding of the coalition National Elective Congress.
Mohwasa revealed this week that UDC being the vehicle for opposition parties it would not be okay for the elective congress to be held while there are still negotiations with other opposition parties. UDC is engaging in cooperation talks with Alliance for Progressives ( AP) and Botswana Patriotic Front ( BPF). The parties have since concluded talks on cooperation during by- elections and have sealed this arrangement through a Memorandum of Understanding ( MoU).
“We cannot have the congress while other comrades are still outside. This would not be fair because they would have been excluded in key discussions and decisions that would be taken during the congress”.
He said this explains why they are currently operating under the Transitional Clause. “If we had not used the Transitional Clause to welcome BCP into the coalition it would have been left out in terms of representation at NEC level. “That is why we want to conclude talks with other opposition parties before we can go for the congress. We cannot ask people to join us then they are bystanders. The Transition Clause allows for flexibility,” Mohwasa, who is also the UDC Head of Communication, said. Mohwasa revealed that the BNF leadership is disappointed at some UDC leaders who leak internal matters to the media. He explained that the discussion of the internal matters with the media and other third parties compromises the integrity of the NEC.
The media, especially social media, has been abuzz with internal matters discussed or to be discussed at the UDC NEC meetings.
Regarding the resuscitation of BNF structures, Mohwasa said the party President Advocate Duma Boko will on the 20th June 2021 launch the National Campaign dubbed ‘ BNF my future my vision’. He said the campaign will then be rolled out throughout the country where the central committee will deploy its members to head the campaigns. According to Mohwasa the BNF wants to do membership audit and engage in a robust recruitment drive. He said this is because the UDC needs a strong BNF as a contracting partner. He pointed out that the central committee has also endorsed the realignment of the party’s regions with the aim of increasing them from 10.