“Those who signed were comfortable with all terms but we felt that we had to discuss some of the things that were in the draft.” He declined to reveal the aspects they were not in agreement with.
The memorandum of understanding was signed between the Botswana Alliance Movement (BAM) Botswana National Front (BNF) and Botswana Congress Party (BCP) to field joint candidates in all by-elections before the 2009 general elections. Balikani said he is certain the BPP will sign the memorandum after a meeting with BCP scheduled for this Saturday.
He said that the general membership of the party supported the initiative and have given the leadership the go ahead to engage in talks with other parties. Insiders have indicated that BPP is sceptical about the memorandum of understanding because it is likely to hasten its extinction. If the BPP signs the memorandum, it is not likely to field any joint candidate in a by-election as BCP and BNF had higher votes in most constituencies.
The memorandum says that the partner parties with the highest tally in the last general elections will produce the joint candidate in any by-election. The BPP entered the last elections under an electoral pact with BAM and BNF.
In an interview with Mmegi, BNF president, Otsweletse Moupo said they consulted with BPP prior to the signing of this week’s memorandum. “It is only that there are certain aspects that they needed clarity on, but they gave us the go ahead to sign. I can only pray and hope that the outcome of its meeting with BCP will be positive.” He pointed out that the memorandum of understanding would not overrule the electoral pact, which they signed with BPP and BAM. Instead, it will complement it.
He clarified that the pact largely targeted the 2004 general elections. However, there was an agreement to continue with cooperation even after the general elections. BCP president, Gilson Saleshando said they remain hopeful that the meeting they will hold with BPP will bear positive results.
“We are open to all like-minded political parties. We do not discriminate. The only party that we would not want is Botswana Democratic Party.”
