BNF members want to re-open allocation talks
The Botswana National Front (BNF) members in the Kgatleng East and Mmopane/Lentsweletau constituencies are hopeful that the party will address their concerns about the allocation of constituencies to other cooperating partners within the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC).
Despite having been addressed, the members want the constituency committee allocation decision be reversed.
The BNF, the Botswana People’s Party (BPP), the Alliance for Progressives (AP) and the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) are affiliates of the UDC. The tensions amongst the UDC affiliates have resulted in the UDC being plagued by division.
They have complained that the party is not doing enough to resolve conflicts over constituency allocations. Some believe the BNF has a big brother mentality and is not willing to compromise with other parties they are cooperating with. However, the issue has caused significant tension within the UDC, and it remains unsolved. The unresolved party divisions have delayed the party’s campaign efforts, with only five months left until the general elections. The cooperating partners are unable to set aside their differences and focus on working together. Furthermore, some members fear that the divisions at the BNF may severely impact the performance of the BNF in the upcoming general elections. Recently, the BNF has been losing key members.
In an interview, the Kgatleng East chairperson, Obakeng Matlou said; “we are hopeful for meaningful developments save for the fact that our constituency will be attended to, including all other discontent constituencies just after the Easter holiday. A task force shall visit us to deliberate on these matters. We will be waiting for them.”
The BNF members in these two constituencies believe that their party has structures and has been performing well in those areas. In the Kgatleng East constituency, the BNF members believe that the BPP never contested there for many years or had any councillor or a Member of Parliament in that area, unlike the tried and tested BNF.
Recently, the BNF members resolved to write a letter to the central committee, demanding the latter to come and address the matter. Furthermore, the members also chose to take additional measures to ensure that their voices are heard.
“Should the party leadership fail to address members, they have suggested that a special regional conference be called to escalate the matter. This would allow the members to raise their concerns in a formal setting and seek a resolution that is satisfactory to all involved,”
Matlou said. On what would happen if they did not prevail, Matlou said it is important to clarify that the members’ aim is not to cause conflict or division but rather to ensure that the matter is handled honestly and transparently. On the other hand, the BPP believes it could win the area for the UDC and that it had tried its best to engage the BNF members in the area but they refused.
Speaking to Mmegi during the interview, party chairperson, Dr Patrick Molutsi, said; “the task force has visited 15 constituencies and told them the importance of th3 coalition and how members must behave when they have complaints.
The party members should know that a coalition includes compromise and that all good things are done for the sake of the UDC, not individuals. The team started meetings with different leaders for all constituencies so that they could also brief members.”
Regarding the issue, Matlou said Kgatleng East members had their position during the said meeting and requested a different meeting where the task team promised that it would happen. “Our constituents requested together with the region that the Kgatleng East allocation be reversed as it does not make sense at all,” he said. He said they are waiting for the party to clearly make a pronouncement on the matter so that the members could make a decision.