Dear UDC, put your house in order!

Mmegi Editor | Monday March 21, 2022 06:00

The debacle between the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) and Botswana National Front (BNF) at Bophirima ward in the Gaborone Bonnington South constituency has opened yet another controversy for the coalition.

The current issue clearly shows that the coalition partners being the BNF, the BCP and Botswana Peoples Party have made it a norm that they hardly agree on anything.

In the unfolding dispute, the BCP has revealed that it will contest Bophirima ward outside the UDC arrangement. Equally, it also vehemently denied that its action does mark the official withdrawal of the party from the Umbrella.

The BCP is doing this with full knowledge that it is a key ally in the opposition coalition, and looking at the last general election results, the UDC does not stand a chance to win the Bophirima ward by-election especially fragmented as it is.

It is like the partners have agreed that no matter what, they have to ensure that they sabotage each other.

What remains clear is that, there is no order in the UDC. There is too much bickering within the coalition; something that has often times derailed its progress.

One expects the UDC to simply project itself as a brand of a government in waiting. It should show the voters that indeed it has what it takes to be trusted with the administration of this republic. However, the coalition keeps faltering every time when there is much expectation to deliver.

The partners are incessantly fighting over constituency and ward allocations. If the UDC wants to attain democracy, it must go back to the drawing board and rethink the model it wants to take under this unity.

It is clear that there is no peace within the coalition. Maybe it is best primary elections are held in order to resolve the issue of constituency and ward allocations. It has become a norm that the issue becomes a hot potato every time there are elections in sight.

As things stand, our opposition is almost as good as dead. The ruling Botswana Democratic Party is currently unmarked while the UDC is busy cajoling itself.

Again, there is seemingly a leadership crisis at the UDC. There is absolutely no trust amongst the leaders, as they only look at the interests of their individual parties. As it is, the coalition is in shambles.

The UDC is an organisation whose members enjoy attacking each other on social media than anything else. There is no discipline at all, even amongst the leaders! It is very simple. UDC cannot win elections when it is divided. The coalition should get its house in order before it is too late or else it is headed for split.

Today's thought

“If you’re in coalition and you’re comfortable, you know it’s not a broad enough coalition”– Bernice Jonhson Reagon