BCP, BNF turf battles rage on
The Botswana Congress Party (BCP), a party contracted to the tri-party opposition Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), might find itself encumbered in double trouble. Staffer reports
This follows unflinching decision taken by the Dumelang Saleshando-led central committee recently to contest a vacant Bophirima ward by-election outside the UDC arrangement, flagrantly violating the coalition protocols.
Whilst the UDC might not take action now, the coalition’s head of communication, Moeti Mohwasa explained this week, “the UDC leadership will meet after the by-election and a determination to take action or not against the BCP will be made”.
Political commentators, however, feel strongly that the disciplinary action might not hold as the BCP is part of the tri-party coalition partners and cannot be ordinarily expected to take action against itself. Inside the BCP, the party is facing further clefts after the decision to contest the Bophirima ward met stiff headwinds from some legislators who strongly felt the party central committee violated the UDC protocols. The legislators were worried that their party leadership was deliberately violating the UDC rules and regulations whilst they were elected to Parliament on the coalition ticket.
The contention of legislators opposed to the central committee decision’s is borne out of the fact that the BCP central committee is a lower structure that could have not undone a decision of a higher structure as the BCP has joined the UDC after the party congress had sanctioned the move.
One BCP Member of Parliament (MP) was worried that under normal circumstances, a representative of the party parliamentary caucus sits in the party central committee but this time around, the representative of the caucus was not part of the central committee that decided to field a candidate at Bophirima ward.
“It was not that we were against the BCP CC, what we are saying is that the party congress mandated the party to be part of the UDC. The congress is supreme whilst the CC is a lower structure of the party and should have not ‘usurped’ the power to violate the rules and regulations of the UDC,” said an MP who preferred anonymity.
At the beginning of a BCP CC meeting to brief the party MPs, six party legislators were allegedly insistent that a proper decision that respects the BCP’s membership of the UDC should be taken rather than disrespecting its commitment to opposition unity. Initially, six MPs allegedly stood firmly against the BCP CC decision to conduct the by-election as a single entity. Apparently, the MPs’ strength dwindled as one of the outspoken party MPs (name withheld) towed the line of the party leader Saleshando, abandoning his other comrades who instead prefer the BCP to contest outside the UDC arrangement. Therefore, the party goes into the by-election a divided lot.
BCP spokesperson, Mpho Pheko recently lambasted the UDC president Duma Boko in a statement she issued blaming him for the Bophirima ward mess. “The UDC president, Boko, has spurned all efforts to convene a NEC meeting to discuss the ward issue despite conflicting positions regarding the party that must produce the candidate,” she said in a press statement justifying her party’s position. She was steadfast that, “basic governance principles dictate that even where no differences exist, the NEC should formally affirm both the partner that produces the candidate”.
Pheko accused Boko of unilaterally imposing the BNF and its candidate on the Bophirima ward.
She acknowledged that at the BCP, the ultimate decision-making body is the party congress. She added that they will be making a decision in July at the party congress. “Otherwise, in the interim, it is the CC that makes decisions. We have seen reports in the social media that some party MPs are not with the central committee in its decision,” she said, indicating that unfortunately, they are yet to engage. In concluding her long press statement, Pheko declared: “The central committee took the decision to have a BCP candidate stand in the Bophirima ward in its name and colours to mark the beginning of a resolute stand against unilateralism and dictatorship in the UDC.”
UDC head of communications, Mohwasa who is also the BNF secretary-general, has also issued a press statement justifying the position of the coalition. In the midst of accusations from the coalition partners, Mohwasa chose to tow the middle line. “The BCP decision to compete against the UDC in the Bophirima by-election though unfortunate and regrettable should be respected. Internecine strife won’t help us,” was Mohwasa’s response.
Another BCP MP also expressed fear that the issues dividing the BCP and the BNF might be personal and not easy to handle.
Legislators who resist the decision of their party leadership are. however, apprehensive that in the long term it might cost them their constituencies as they might be punished for abandoning the unity project. University of Botswana (UB)-based political analyst, Adam Mfundisi told Mmegi this week that he has not read the Memorandum of Agreement amongst the coalition partners and other interested parties. “Nonetheless, I read a memo regarding the 2019 general election which purport to indicate that the ward was allocated to the BCP and loaned to the BNF to enable a nominated councilor in the ward the opportunity to contest. The BNF candidate failed to win the council ward in 2019. The BCP argues that this is the time for its candidate who gave way to the BNF candidate who lost the council seat the opportunity to represent the UDC,” explained Mfundisi, a UB lecturer in politics and administrative studies.
His view is that the BNF’s interpretation is that the ward formed part of their sphere of influence and therefore, qualifies to present a UDC candidate. “The irony here is that the UDC is dominated by BNF in strategic positions of power, and I am well informed that the UDC is housed at BNF offices.
This ward has divided UDC and involves more than the BCP and BNF in that Alliance for Progressives (AP) and the Botswana Peoples Party (BPP) have taken sides further complicating the problem,” observed the UB academic. He had believed that the leaders of AP and BPP would be peacemakers, reconciling the warring parties.
In his view, the leadership of the BCP and BNF have not had peace since the conclusion of the 2019 general election. Some quarters of the BNF believe the BCP stabbed them on the back by attending the President Mokgweetsi Masisi inauguration, which elections outcomes the UDC protested leading to marathon of petitions before the courts.
The sterling performance of the BCP particularly in the northern part of Botswana sent shockwaves in the BNF, which performed badly in its southern strongholds.
“Some BNF cadres became jealous of the BCP’s performance and subsequently thought it has become a challenge to the BNF hegemony in the UDC. The BCP is committed to the formation of a single formidable opposition party, an idea that the BNF seems to be averse to,” the political analyst added. Furthermore, Mfundisi insists that the BCP agitates for a transformation of the UDC by introducing new structures, systems, processes, rules, regulations, and leadership. It advocates for change of processes of choosing the leadership. Moreover, it wants the coronation of the BNF leader as the ultimate president of the UDC to be revisited. The BNF views and perceives these narratives and statements as challenges to its hegemony in the UDC. And all is set for a bitter confrontation between the BCP and BNF within the UDC.
“According to my considered view, both BCP and BNF are to blame for this political circus. Coalition politics is about negotiation, compromise, communication, cooperation, collaboration, bargaining, rationality, and the spirit of give-andtake. Confrontation politics is detrimental to opposition politics,” analysed Mfundisi. He posited that collective leadership premised on ethics and accountability is vital for a durable coalition polity. Turf battles are caused by lack of trust and confidence between the leaders of both parties including the rank-and-file. Polarisation and partisanship displayed by the leaders and members of both parties are a danger to unity and cohesion of the UDC. He cautioned the AP and BPP to desist from taking sides and become objective adjudicators. Empathy and humility he highlighted are bridging values necessary for conflict resolutions.
If the BCP CC has resolved to disregard UDC protocols, Mfundisi said it is within its mandate to take actions and decisions on behalf of BCP members. He believes the BCP constitution empowers the CC to make decisions on behalf of the membership. Nevertheless, Mfundisi’s view is that ultimately, the CC must be accountable to the masses through designated structures. Strategic leaders should be able to listen to the voters and be willing to adapt their positions contingent on the prevailing political environment, he noted.
The UB don would further observe that both the BCP and the BNF leadership lack personal discipline, which is key for focused, and comprehension of their responsibilities in the coalition arrangement. Lack of effective communication within the UDC is the major problem. Communication with transparency is the antidote to protracted struggles between the warring parties, he added. Worriedly he was concerned that “there is pernicious lack of trust and confidence between the BCP and the BNF”. All in all, he added that there is dire need for dispute resolution mechanisms to resolve potential and real problems besetting the coalition. “Maintaining trust to create an environment where coalition partners believe that all members of the coalition are open, transparent, and forthright in their dealings and agreements.”
According to statements and pronouncements from the BCP, they are convinced that they have not violated the constitution of the UDC. The BCP posits that it has a legitimate right to claim the ward in accordance with the UDC protocols pre2019 general election. It argues that the so-called UDC candidate is a BNF one. With this BCP position, Mfundisi said the BCP is content that they have not committed any offence and therefore, does not expect a punitive action against it.
The jury is out on the matter. Both the BCP and the BNF are to blame for this impasse. It is apparent now that the UDC leadership hardly meets to deal with burning issues in the coalition.
“Decision-making meetings are required to maintain continuous and open communication and resolve pertinent issues that may arise. Internal and external communication needs to be in place to deal with partners and the public and the press,” he said. In summation, Mfundisi acknowledges that the CC of the UDC has the power to institute disciplinary processes against any errant member(s). But, the catch is that the UDC CC comprises members from the warring factions and a possible stalemate may obtain.