Two BCP councillors stick with Keorapetse
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Wednesday September 28, 2022 15:20
This was announced at the UDC event held in his constituency on Saturday. The Selebi-Phikwe West legislator is amongst the five MPs the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) recently fired for 'betraying' it.
The BCP recently expelled five of its MPs after they dethroned their former president, Dumelang Saleshando. The five expelled are the Leader of Opposition Dithapelo Keorapetse, Dr Never Tshabang (Nkange), David Tshere (Mahalapye West), Onneetse Ramogapi (Palapye), and Kenny Kapinga (Okavango).
Kapinga has since requested to re-join the BCP. Currently, the UDC president Duma Boko has written a letter to BCP MPs and councillors who want to contest under the UDC ticket to write a letter of expression of interest for the 2024 General Elections. “I will not be remaining alone in the UDC.
Two of my councillors will also write a letter of expression of interest to UDC. Mind you, Selebi-Phikwe West has seven councillors of which we had won only five and the ruling party, Botswana Democratic Party, had won two. Out of five, one of the councillors is for the Botswana National Front (BNF) while four are under UDC/BCP and two of these four told me they would be retiring from active politics.
Yes, we will work hard to retain the seat since this area has been a BCP stronghold,” Keorapetse said. Still, on the issue, the letter from Boko dated September 12 reads: “The UDC NEC at its meeting resolved to ask all its seating MPs and councillors who have been expelled or are members of the BCP to in writing communicate an expression of interest in the 2024 General Elections under its ticket.
The deadline for the expression of interest is September 26. It was further resolved all those who submit the expression of interest will automatically become the party’s candidates in the 2024 General Elections.” On the contrary, BCP spokesperson Mpho Pheko had said that as far as the BCP is concerned, the letter by Boko is inconsequential as it is inconsistent with the law as it pertains to elected representatives. She said all the BCP elected representatives have been advised to remain calm and focused and are reminded that their contract with the UDC is through their party's (BCP) deployment.