BPF, AP finally join UDC

Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday January 22, 2024 07:50

The new partnership brings to four the number of opposition parties that make up a united front against the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP). This comes after the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) left the coalition recently. The other parties are the Botswana National Front (BNF) and the Botswana People's Party (BPP).

The BCP’s withdrawal from the UDC last year was the culmination of a protracted acrimonious relationship between the Dumelang Saleshando-led party and the UDC over the leadership of the latter. Until then, the BCP and the BNF were the two major players in the UDC stable, while the BPP commanded less influence. Since the BCP formation in 1998, as a breakaway party from the BNF, the two parties have always enjoyed a love-hate relationship. Confirming the latest developments, the BPF and AP's spokespersons, Lawrence Ookeditse and Phenyo Butale respectively said their parties share a common goal of defeating the BDP at the October general election.

"We believe we can only defeat the BDP if we work together as opposition parties," said Ookeditse, adding that the details of the agreement between his party and UDC are yet to be made public. For his part, Butale said: "We have agreed as opposition parties of the UDC to use one symbol at the next elections, the UDC symbol. We will not be contesting as individual parties." Meanwhile, in yet another significant move, the BCP recently announced that it has formed a coalition with the new kid on the bloc of Botswana politics, the Botswana Labour Party (BLP) led by former BNF vice president Prince Dibeela.

The latter formed the party together with a group of other disgruntled BNF members. The latest realignment of forces within Botswana's opposition parties means that the October election will be a three-horse race amongst the BDP, UDC and BCP. No independent candidates have so far indicated their interest to stand. Meanwhile, both the BPF and the AP have indicated that they intend conducting primary elections in various constituencies and wards in which the parties will contest under the UDC symbol.