So near yet so far away

Lebogang Mosikare | Monday August 22, 2022 06:00

The BCP says that the political deadlock between it and the UDC is triggered by the lack of good governance issues within the four-party coalition.

The UDC is made up of the Botswana National Front (BNF), Botswana People’s Party (BPP), BCP and lately Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF).

The bickering between the UDC and BCP has left scores of their respective supporters with fear that the situation may remain volatile forever.

In fact, delegates at a recent BCP conference in Mahalapye gave their party the powers to exit the UDC within six months if governance issues are not addressed within the coalition.

The UDC is denying such claims.

Spokesperson of the BCP Mpho Pheko, who is an associate professor of psychology at the University of Botswana (UB), told Mmegi that the BCP has not received any communication from the UDC following the suspensions of Dumelang Saleshando and Goretetse Kekgonegile from the UDC.

The duo is president and secretary-general of the BCP respectively and sat in the national executive committee (NEC) of the UDC by virtue of their positions before being suspended.

Some analysts view the suspensions of Saleshando and Kekgonegile, who are also legislators of Maun West and East constituencies respectively, as some of the factors with the potential to cause the BCP to permanently leave the UDC.

Pheko explained that after Saleshando met the UDC and BNF president, Duma Boko, at Oliver Tambo International Airport in South Africa (SA) around mid July, the BCP has not received any formal correspondence from the UDC explaining why Saleshando and Kekgonegile were suspended from the coalition in line with the constitution of the UDC.

“I recently met the president of the BNF in response to calls by some Batswana who believe that no effort must be spared in protecting the unity of the opposition, in particular the UDC. Both of us, the BCP and BNF presidents, agree that where possible, no stone should be left unturned in protecting the gains we made in the 2019 general elections,” said Saleshando about his meeting with Boko in SA.

“In our meeting, we converged around some issues for our two parties to reflect over, which are: lifting the suspensions of UDC NEC members, withdrawing the case against the UDC on suspensions, lifting the suspension of five BCP legislators who were later expelled from the party (BCP), engaging on enhancing prospects of opposition victory in Moselewapula and engaging an independent facilitator to address UDC governance issues,” he added.

In addition, the BCP spokesperson stated that they expect the UDC to furnish them with reasons why Saleshando and Kekgonegile were suspended because the suspender is the one who should provide those reasons.

Just like other BCP Members of Parliament (MPs) who are currently not suspended from the UDC, Pheko reiterated that the BCP will never compromise on governance issues.

“The BCP will never back down on good governance practices that it wants to embed in the UDC. Doing so will be detrimental to both the image of the BCP and UDC if they want the public to treat them seriously as potential good future leaders of Botswana. The BCP has since taken the issue of the suspensions of Saleshando and Kekgonegile to the High Court to show that the move to suspend them is unjustified,” said Pheko.

She also clarified that the BCP will never formally approach the UDC to ask it why it suspended some of its leaders because as expected, the suspender is the one who is suppose to proffer concrete reasons for (his, her or its) decisions.

Asked if there has been any new developments following the meeting of Boko and Saleshando in SA, spokesperson of the UDC Moeti Mohwasa said following the meeting “that you are talking about and whose details we cannot go into, the BCP president was to consult his organisation on the proposals and revert to the UDC leader”.

“The UDC leader was also to do the same, which he did and was given the go ahead. Remember that at the time of the meeting, the BCP had suspended five MPs. Following Boko and Saleshando’s meeting, the BCP resolved to expel them which is something that was inconsistent with what was discussed,” Mohwasa added.

From Mohwasa’s reply to a questionnaire that Mmegi sent to him, it seems that chances of reconciliation between the UDC and BCP are just a pie in the sky.

It appears that the reconciliation talks were even hardened by the fact that the BCP conference in Mahalapye resolved to expel MPs David Tshere, Kenny Kapinga, Dithapelo Keorapetse, Onneetse Ramogapi and Dr Never Tshabang from its fold.

“The UDC briefed us about the meeting and since then there has been no developments. Taking into account the tone that was used by the BCP president at the party’s conference, his failure to revert as agreed and the expulsion of the five MPs indicate that the party is not interested in our proposals. You should also appreciate that the NEC would not comment further on this matter primarily because of three reasons,” Mohwasa told Mmegi.

Outlining the reasons why the NEC of the UDC would not comment any further on the matter, Mohwasa said as an organisation that in founded on uniting the opposition, the UDC would not like to engage in a public exchanges with the BCP or any other opposition party.

He added that doing so would work to the advantage of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP).

In addition, Mohwasa stated that some of the questions Mmegi posed to him relate to a matter that is before the courts and as such, the UDC will regrettably address them through the courts since the BCP has dragged the UDC and Boko to court.

“Also, out of respect for the BCP, we would not like to say much beyond what is already in the public domain. However, the UDC remains open to engage at any time to enhance opposition unity and cohesion,” Mohwasa said.

The political tug of war between the UDC and BCP happens when the BCP and Alliance for Progressives (AP) are at an advanced stage of forming a cooperation arrangement of some sort.

Of recent, the BCP and AP cooperated in the controversial Bophirima and Moselewapula by-elections.

The two parties share the common trait of good governance amongst others, which they say is lacking in the UDC.