GATWE ALL PARTIES EXCEPT BNF WILL QUIT THE UDC PROJECT

The grapevine had it this week that the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) is working towards totally distancing itself from the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC). Magatwe a re all this talk about the BPF wanting to renegotiate a pact model with the UDC is just part of a delay tactic meant to give the BPF reason to finally quit as they know their demands may not be met by the UDC leadership. Gatwe the BPF wants to have its own symbol on the ballot paper yet working with the UDC, perhaps the same way it happened in 2019, such that where the BPF stands, the UDC supports them, and where the UDC stands, the BPF supports them. But then again, gatwe there is an issue of discontent by the BPF regarding allocation of some constituencies among them Shoshong, Tonota, Shashe West and Francistown East. We gather that the BPF wants those constituencies and that if they do not get them they are goners! Again it is believed they know that demand wont be accepted, allowing them even more reason to leave. But this we hear, is only the tip of an iceberg. Magatwe a re actually, other parties within the UDC are not happy with the way they are treated. In short, gatwe the Alliance for Progressives (AP) and the Botswana Peoples Party (BPP) are also contemplating stepping aside. Their only problem we hear, is that their candidates know that without the backing the collective, they wont win a single constituency and therefore want to use the UDC brand to give them some backing. Speculation on these three parties wanting to quit the UDC have been rife for months with many denying any such possibility, but with the BPF finally coming out, it could be a matter of time before AP and BPP start talking. Which begs the question that someone asked on social media this week: Should they also choose to leave, what would become of the UDC with just BNF remaining? Would the UDC be disbanded or will the BNF continue calling itself the UDC?