Opposition membership exodus begins
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday March 14, 2022 06:00
Recently, different party members within opposition have been defecting to each other’s parties as they seek greener pastures.
It is evident that the members want to position themselves where they stand a good chance for candidacy in 2024 general elections. The members who quit want to be at parties that have solid memberships and preferable constituencies that are winnable.
In an interview, Machacha said even if it is good for parties to recruit members, it is not a wise move for parties to be recruiting members from themselves.
“Already opposition talks are in place and that might divide parties. The parties might not trust each other if the members start to do that. The situation calls for parties to have clear rules and regulations as to what should happen while they are in talks. If they do not do that, other ones might take advantage of others as they may ask their members to join others so that in the long run then they defect back,” he told Mmegi. “Again, some members who have long been loyal to those parties might be uncomfortable by sudden defections especially members whom they knew have the intention of contesting under their party name. Parties should be able to recruit members outside the umbrella to avoid disputes and unnecessary conflicts.”
In addition, Machacha said it is clear that sometimes politicians are not true to their principles. He said the move that could be celebrated by many as one registers key membership could bring factions within the party and division.
“The reason why some parties used to have a clause in their constitution which bares one from contesting for that party if his/her members have less than two years was to check if one is genuinely joining the party or not. Maybe parties should revisit this clause,” he said.
He further advised the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), which parties are affiliated to, to strengthen its regulations regarding the cooperation and also to address issues of constituency allocation expeditiously as it might bring more problems a year before elections. Meanwhile, former Alliance for Progressive (AP) youth president, Jacob Kelebeng was over the weekend spotted at Botswana National Front (BNF) Kweneng regional congress in Molepolole.
Kelebeng, who contested for Takatokwane constituency in the 2019 general elections, also confirmed that he has joined the BNF.
“The residents of Takatokwane have advised me to join the BNF. That is my new home now. It must be noted that I did not fight with my former political leadership at AP,” Kelebeng explained.
However AP secretary-general, Phenyo Butale said he is happy that his party is producing quality leaders who could be recruited by other parties. He said Kelebeng has long resigned last year and they were not aware that he had joined BNF.
“Currently there is nothing binding members from defecting from one party to another. We cannot dent the member’s political affiliation. What is currently happening does happen at all times in opposition parties. The UDC can only talk to parties after talks are complete. Currently, each party is busy recruiting members even those that have not joined politics because for UDC to be stronger, it needs each party to have good membership numbers,” Butale said.
He revealed the AP is also attracting some members who were not active in their parties and those that have not had any political home.
Butale said his party will soon launch a membership drive to recruit more members.