AP-BCP hint BMD cooperation rejection
Chakalisa Dube | Monday November 7, 2022 06:00
This is according to the party spokesperson Mmaotho Segotso. The AP is a splinter party from the BMD. The AP was formed after a bloody fight among BMD members in Bobonong five years ago. At the moment, the AP is working on a cooperation model for the 2024 General Elections with the Botswana Congress Party (BCP).
The newly elected BMD president Nehemiah Modubule recently expressed desire to explore a working arrangement with the AP and the BCP at the 2024 General Elections. There is no doubt that the BMD Bobonong infighting that led to the split is still on the minds of many AP members and will be replayed in the years to come. The fight was between a faction that was led by AP president Ndaba Gaolathe and another faction led by Sydney Pilane. Modubule, who was then the party chairperson, was fighting in Pilane’s corner. There has always been doubts that the AP and the BMD can work together based on their historic past linked to events in Bobonong.
The public posture of the AP since 2017 has always been that the party cannot work with the BMD. Segotso thoroughly reacted to indications that the BMD intends to explore a working relationship with the former and the BCP in an interview this week. “Any party that wishes to work with the BCP and the AP must formally write to a structure that was appointed by the two parties to coordinate cooperation talks. The AP cannot solely make a call as to whether a working arrangement with the BMD is ideal or not,” said Segotso. She stated that Botswana Labour Party (BLP) wants to work with the AP and BCP at the 2024 General Elections and has applied formally. Segotso added that a determination on the BLP application will be made soon. Segotso added: “The BMD will have to follow a similar route (applying to work with the BCP and AP).
However, if you were to ask me if the AP and BMD are like minded parties, I will be able to offer a definite answer. The BMD and the AP are not like-minded parties. The position of the AP has always been that it will work with like-minded parties.” To a certain degree the above statement suggests that a working relationship with BMD as well as the AP and the BCP is not feasible. The BCP spokesperson Mpho Pheko shared similar sentiments as Segotso. “It is difficult to offer an explicit answer for now. There is a laid down process, which parties that want to work with the AP and the BCP must follow. They have to make a formal application. There is a committee tasked with reviewing the like mindedness of such parties in relation to working with the BCP and the AP. The committee is entirely responsible for determining which party should be admitted to work with us (BCP and the AP),” she said.
It has also been widely speculated that some in the BCP are not comfortable with the BMD because of fear polarising the party’s relationship with the AP.