Mme Nkoane should confront debilitating BNF and UDC problems
I have a personal political policy that I shall NOT ‘arabisana’ le bomme ba mapolotiki mo social media. BUT! Utterances made by the BNF Women’s League President force me to TEMPORARILY reconsider this personal policy. The part of her remarks that is circulating on social media was in bad taste, devious and dishonest.
Mme Bonang Nkoane was invited to give a solidarity message at the BCP Women’s League Conference, NOT to grandstand, throw shade, or use the platform to practice political witchcraft.
She knows quite well why the opposition will not unite under the UDC in its current state and attitude. No serious opposition party will accept to be part of a UDC that has no regard for its own constitution, democracy and good governance. Nor will it accept the BNF’s dictatorship at UDC and its silly claim that it is the natural leader of the UDC. We are repulsed by the UDC’s position on governance, the dictatorship of the BNF and the madness of its wholly bizarre and meritless claim to natural leadership.
If Mme Nkoane does not yet know what it is that the new coalition will do differently than the UDC, I would like to make it clear. We are clear that Botswana needs a government that is firmly grounded on the principles of good democratic governance. That means unquestioning respect for the constitution and the rule of law, free and fair elections, and competent, accountable, transparent, inclusive and ethical and government.
It makes no sense at all to tout congruence around programme ideas when you are married to the chaos and instability that comes with disregard for the constitution, democracy and good governance.
If Mme Nkoane is genuinely concerned about opposition unity, she will use her position and platform as the BNFWL President and member of its Executive Committee to confront the leaders of UDC, who happen to be the leaders of the BNF, about the archaic positions they have taken on the UDC constitution, democracy and good governance for 11 years. Rather than dimmish the centrality of these issues to the UDC’s problems, she should acknowledge that the disunity within the UDC is a direct result of her President’s claim to Natural Leadership, poor governance of the UDC project, and failure by her Party Leaders to respect other voices within the UDC.
The UDC is not a prison. Progressive parties that are repulsed by the UDC’s medieval position on leadership and governance, and want competent and accountable leadership and governance, are at liberty to go seek unity elsewhere. The BCP is working with the Alliance for Progressives to build a political vehicle that will attract like-minded stakeholders that are serious about sustainable and transformative change of government in 2024. Already the newly established BNF breakaway party, the Botswana Labour Party, whose leadership includes the former Vice President of the BNF, Cde Dr Reverend Prince Dibeela, has expressed interest to join the new coalition. Rather than abuse the BCP’s hospitality and cast aspersions on this initiative, Mme Nkoane should confront the debilitating problems at the BNF and the UDC.
Finally, Mme Nkoane should know that while Batswana are desperate for change, it is downright irresponsible and evil to offer them the Faustian bargain that is UDC in its current state. In due cause, Batswana will heed Bob Marley’s wise counsel, that “NONE BUT OURSELVES CAN FREE MINDS”. They will then see through the irresponsible and sound bites such as “Regime change at any cost”, “UDC or
nothing”, and “Duma Boko or nothing”. This country is not about to submit to a BNF sponsored dictatorship, not under the watch of the AP, BCP and other progressive formations.