UDC responds to BCP
The Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) spokesperson, Moeti Mohwasa has said they would not like to engage in unnecessary exchanges with the Botswana Congress Party (BCP). The UDC’s four affiliates are the BCP, the Botswana National Front (BNF), the Botswana People’s Party (BPP) and the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF).
Lately, the UDC and the BCP marriage has apparently been rocky, sparking exchanges of words officially and non-official on social media platforms. Last week, the UDC president Duma Boko gave BCP Members of Parliament (MPs) and councillors an ultimatum that forces them to choose between the UDC and the BCP.
In an interview with Mohwasa yesterday, he said: “Not because we lack the necessary firepower, but because doing so will be reducing us to infantile disorder. It does not assist the image and integrity of the opposition. The UDC NEC has control over all its affiliates and its decisions supersede those of its affiliates.
Affiliates should know that by joining the UDC, they give away and also assume certain rights and obligations. Membership of the UDC like in any other organisation is voluntary and the expectation is that members will stay as long as they are able to submit to the authority of its NEC.
During their stay, they should be disciplined. You cannot enjoy certain rights and then disregard your obligations to the organisation.” He said a disciplined member has to respect authority and the decisions of the centre of authority in any movement.
In addition, he pointed out that disregarding that will disintegrate the movement politically and organisationally. The UDC spokesperson also said they will jealously guard against the disintegration of the UDC. He continued: “We are in this conundrum because our affiliate is scared of leaving us and as a result is causing mayhem.
The constitution is quite instructive. Clause 8.3 of the UDC constitution states clearly that, ‘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.
Clause 8.4 goes further, “notwithstanding 8.1 and 8.3 above, the structures, authority and powers of member groups of the Umbrella shall be subordinate to the power and authority of the Umbrella”. Furthermore, Mohwasa said the BCP’s actions show that it is not fully committed to what the UDC stands for.
He stressed that the BCP has decided to cooperate with the Alliance for Progressives (AP), a non-UDC member contrary to the provisions of the UDC constitution and by that it continues to undermine the resolutions of the UDC NEC by flouting clause 8.4 of the constitution.