BCP-AP talks bother UDC
O UDC NEC to decide BCP fate
O BCP has always breached the constitution
- Mohwasa
O UDC has left us with no option-Pheko
The Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) National Executive Committee (NEC) will on September 9, 2022 decide the fate of the Botswana Congress Party (BCP). This comes after the Sunday development where the BCP officially launched negotiation talks with the Alliance for Progressives (AP) for the 2024 General Election. It is evident the BCP wants to dump the UDC and join forces with the AP for the upcoming general election.
The BCP has of late been complaining about governance issues within the UDC. The BCP has decried that the UDC is taking decisions without the partner’s consent.
Recently, the UDC welcomed the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) into the coalition without inviting the BCP. The UDC claims that the BCP has suspended itself from the UDC NEC meetings and as such there was no need to send an invitation for the meeting that welcomed the BPF into the UDC fold.
Last month, the UDC NEC suspended BCP president, Dumelang Saleshando and its secretary-general Goretetse Kekgonegile for misconduct. On the other hand, the BCP conference resolved that the party should remain in the UDC for six months to assess the situation.
If the BCP’s demands in which it is amongst others calling for good governance are not taken into consideration, the party will pull out from the coalition. On Sunday, the BCP and the AP started their initial talks and the issue has rubbed the UDC members the wrong way. UDC constitution clause 8.3 says; “once a group member, an organisation shall not individually enter into any agreement with any political party, which is not a member of the umbrella.
Any agreement involving a group member and any such party shall be a collective matter, negotiated and executed exclusively by the umbrella”. Contacted for comment, the UDC spokesperson, Moeti Mohwasa said they cannot say exactly what action will be taken against the BCP if any. “Of course they are in breach, just like they have always been.
It is the UDC NEC that will decide. Our interest is not to be harsh and punitive against the BCP. It is the way that suggests that they are no longer interested in being part of us.” Still on the matter, UDC chairperson, Motlatsi Molapise said the NEC will make a decision on the matter on September 9, 2022 and the UDC will then communicate to people about its resolution.
“This is a matter that will have to be discussed. I hope it will be on the agenda. We hope issues will be dealt with objectively and the way forward must be made. For now, we cannot say much as more will be said at the scheduled NEC meeting,” Molapise said. The BCP spokesperson, Mpho Pheko confirmed that indeed the AP and the BCP have indeed started talks on building a democratic and accountable alternative to the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) and the UDC.
She said their decision to commence talks with another party while they are still part of the UDC might or not attract disciplinary action from UDC and it is for the latter to decide. “What we know is that the UDC has left us with no option but to chart the path we are taking with the AP.
Further, Batswana need to remember that the agreement we had with the UDC was for the 2019 General Election. You will recall that there was a structure called the opposition cooperation forum that was constituted to negotiate an election arrangement for the 2024 General Election. Opposition parties comprising AP, BCP, BNF, BPF and BPP were represented in the structure. Parties were to submit cooperation framework at that forum.
Only the AP and the BCP complied. Other parties decided to disengage from that forum. It is in that context the AP and the BCP engages in these bilateral talks,” she said. Pheko added the BCP will not be party to a union that tramples on democracy, its constitution, basic tenants of governance and human rights willy-nilly. The BCP and the AP started working together during the Bophirima ward by-election in the Gaborone Bonnington South constituency and also at the Moselewapula ward in the Francistown West constituency. The duo’s relationship grew stronger and they are thinking of forming a new coalition so that they move away from the UDC.
Their bone of contention is that the UDC is not run properly and they are also calling for an elective congress. It has since become clear that the BCP has lost interest in the UDC and developments within the umbrella. However, if the UDC decides to fire the BCP, then there is a possibility of bye-elections in some areas held by the BCP because the latter contested under the UDC ticket during the 2019 General Election. The move might divide opposition parties even further.