Africa-Press – Botswana. President of Botswana Congress Party (BCP), Dumelang Saleshando and his counterpart at Alliance for Progressives (AP), Ndaba Gaolathe are finalising plans to walk out of opposition unity talks and ultimately cut ties with the coalition Umbrella for Democratic Change ( UDC).
Information gathered by this publication is that both Saleshando and Gaolathe have been meeting behind closed doors this week with one of their discussions being about AP and BCP pulling out opposition unity talks. The BCP and AP have already been pulling in different directions in the upcoming Bophirima Ward by-election campaigns.
Impeccable sources close to developments intimate that BCP and AP will no longer take part in the opposition cooperation unity talks that involve UDC and Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF). “After the Bophirima Ward by-election, the BCP and AP representative at the cooperation talks will pull out on the instruction and agreement sealed by Ndaba and Saleshando. This will allows the parties to fully focus on forming an official coalition away from the UDC,” revealed a source.
It is said the central committees of both parties are sharing ideas on how best to work together. Sources indicate that recently, BCP and AP snubbed the opposition cooperation forum meeting convened by the Chairperson, Dr Margaret Nasha calling for parties to submit their position papers on a cooperation model.
The snub by the parties’ representatives is said to have thrown the cooperation talks in limbo. As a result, all the parties have been given a further deadline extension to submit their proposals.
“Questions and anxiety are lingering over the future of the talks. The chairperson of the talks Dr Nasha is highly disappointed and on low spirit. She tried in vain to convince BCP and AP leaders to honour the talks despite the challenges surrounding UDC at the moment. She is worried,” said a source close to talks.
Dr Nasha who is the Presidential advisor to Gaolathe is said to have proposed that the party adopt a neutral stance in the Bophirima ward by- election but her efforts hit a snag. The UDC and its crucial contracting partner BCP have been embroiled in a political scuffle over the Bophirima Ward with the parties now contesting against each other for the ward against the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP).
Efforts to contact Saleshando, Gaolathe and Dr Nasha respectively for comment proved futile at the time of going to print.
BCP, AP pact
Meanwhile, BCP Secretary General Goretetse Kekgonegile when asked if BCP will partake in talks again said his party is highly grateful for AP support during Bophirima by- elections. He also said in regard the AP is a highly principled that lean on integrity, honesty and public good.
“We have learnt a lot from working with them and we will definitely continue the working relationship. BCP is still the member of the UDC but that doesn’t prevent it from having the bilateral relations with AP,” said Kekgonegile asked about parties’ commitment to the talks.
Furthermore, Kekgonegile said the opposition coalition forum led by Dr Nasha has given all the parties 14th April as a deadline for proposed models of opposition working relationship. ‘Cut’, as Kekgonegile is popularly known added that the BCP shall meet the deadline of submitting proposals.
Huge loss
Political and Administrative Studies Lecturer at University of Botswana (UB), Mokaloba Mokaloba says the internal bickering between BNF and BCP will always cost the opposition favoring BDP. He said the BNF and BCP feud is always coming back all over again and beyond that there is always uncertainty as far as the opposition coalition is concerned hence it is so unfortunate.
“It is almost just a year before the general elections and unfortunately they like to pick their fights at wrong times. This a time whereby they should be unified and work on the campaign strategy and manifesto for the UDC. We have gone back to where we have been before and we really wish they can find time to resolve differences in a better way,” said Mokaloba on the impact of BNF-BCP feud.
According to Mokaloba, the current impasse between BNF and BCP is a recipe for losing the 2024 elections by opposition parties with ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) to gain lot.
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