ON THE WAR OF WORDS BETWEEN BNF AND BCP
RANTS OF A NARCISSIST IN GREAT DISTRESS
The BCPYL has noted the empty threats issued by the UDC wannabe dictator Duma Boko in the presence of rented crowds at Palapye and Mahalapye recently. We want to make it known that he will not deter the BCP in its service to Batswana, as well as the party’s commitment to bring about authentic regime change that is anchored on good governance, accountability, integrity and respect to the constitution. While his maturity has never been out of question, Boko’s spurious rants are of a narcissist in great distress and desperation.
He must know that he does not own the public representatives on the UDC ticket, and neither does he own the electorate who voted them to parliament and council. BCP like other coalition partners deployed their members to be UDC candidates, and deployed its enormous ground force to the polls. Those who won have a contract with their voters which they will duly fulfil to its end in 2024. We challenge Boko to forge ahead with whatever impotent plans he has against the BCP sitting MPs and Councilors. Like countless times before, his vindictive and bitter efforts will always fail. Democracy will prevail.
We know his frustrations stem from the fact that he was rejected by voters in 2019 and his masters are becoming impatient, slowly losing their hope to capture Botswana through the gangster president. Batswana are also fast realizing that he has turned the UDC into a Ponzi scheme, his personal vehicle for self-enrichment. It is dawning on the conman that his political career has come to an end; his sights are now on swindling whatever loot he can from unsuspecting donors in his last greatest proverbial “Mahalapye Job.” Unfortunately, he’s wasting time but we will not allow him to delay the authentic change that Batswana are so longing for. He will not derail BCP focus and efforts on working with like-minded stakeholders to usher in a new, better Botswana. For the second time the BCPYL requests Boko to expedite his resignation from politics before he further pollutes opposition politics. We are the BCP Youth League.
Akim M. Keokgale Publicity Secretary
BATSWANA MUST REJECT THE REACTIONARY BCP
1. The Botswana National Front Youth League has noted with disgust a press statement dated 12 September 2022 from the Botswana Congress Party Youth League titled “RESPONSE TO DUMA BOKO’SEMPTY THREATS AGAINST THE BCP.”
2. Whilst it is not in our convention to respond to the pettiness and outright silliness that has come to define the BCPYL and the BCP by extension, we respond to this particular edition to this perpetual behaviour so as to put things in clearer context.
3. The UDC has a responsibility to bring about sanity within its ranks. The BCP has continued with its unprecedented behaviour of a conditional membership of the UDC. Holding on to positions acquired through the collective might of the coalition i.e parliament and council yet demonizing the UDC and virtually denouncing it and their membership thereof outside parliament and councils.
4. The pronouncement of the UDC president as it relates to UDC office bearers particularly those that hold BCP membership is an attempt by the UDC NEC to bring certainty and stability within the UDC ranks. We have seen this strategy though the execution was different, work very well when Dumelang Saleshando was removed as Leader of Opposition in parliament. It allowed the UDC parliamentary caucus to be led by a sound and sober cadre of the UDC who defends and pronounces the UDC at all material times in Cde Dithapelo Keorapetse.
5. It is the same sanity we pursue in asking UDC office bearers to swear their allegiance to the coalition in writing before the 26th of this month. We encourage them to do just that and not to listen to directionless noise.
6. BCPYL has no moral ground to talk about pollution of the opposition space as they seek to do in their write-up. It is this wanton behaviour of this organization that we are still opposition to this day to start with. They postponed regime change in 1998 with their formation at a time when the Duma Boko they seek to scapegoat today was not even a prominent figure in opposition politics, who was the problem then? They postponed regime change in 2014 with their refusal to join forces with other opposition elements. They once again seek to do the same in 2024. Their attempt to give the BDP a new lease this time will not see the light of day
7. We call on Batswana to continue their rejection of the reactionary behaviour of the BCP as evidenced by Bophirima and Moselewapula bye elections. Change in this country can only be realized by the collective wisdom of the Umbrella for Democratic Change whose message is unequivocal as it is clear for all Batswana. “We hate DumaBoko” is not reason at all to trust anyone with your vote.
BNFYL Publicity SecretaryTumelo Legase
UDC MORE FOVOURED THAN BCP
As the 26th of September approaches, there's mounting uneasiness in both the UDC and BCP on the request for UDC affiliation declarations from incumbent MPs and councillors. According to the UDC, those who do not declare shall be deemed not to be members of the party and the relevant authorities informed accordingly so that by elections are held in their constituencies.
I'm not privy to the BCP's official response to the request. But going by the latest missive from its youth wing, and the party's antagonistic attitude to the UDC, it can be deduced that the BCP doesn't agree with the request nor expect any by elections from a refusal to declare. I suspect that the party shall instruct its MPs and councillors not to declare.However, this is a grey area. None knows for sure how the floor crossing law will view the request and response to it. It is a matter that could very well be decided by the courts.
A favourable court decision would result in the exponential growth of the UDC's political capital. The party would exude an air of invincibility, attract many to the its fold, and give it a realistic shot at winning the next elections. And the BCP might even have second thoughts about leaving the opposition coalition.
A decision that favours the UDC wouldn't be good for the ruling BDP. On the other hand, a decision that favours the BCP would embolden it to disparage the UDC further and de-campaign it probably whilst still a coalition partner. However, the decision wouldn't be as beneficial to the BCP as a favourable decision would for the UDC. A decision that favours the BCP would be welcome by the BDP as it would leave the opposition fragmented.
It would be an enormous challenge for the BCP leadership to prevent its MPs and councillors from acceding to the declaration request. None of the party incumbents would want to chance a by election but would rather err on the side of caution and make the declaration.
[BUGALO CHILUME]