BPF withdraws from coalition, proposes PACT model
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Wednesday April 10, 2024 15:36
This decision was made by the party’s leadership, who are concerned that the current coalition arrangement is not working as intended. Some of the UDC affiliates include the Alliance for Progressives (AP), Botswana People’s Party (BPP), and Botswana National Front (BNF).
BPF President Mephato Reatile admitted this in an interview on Sunday. “It is true the BPF leadership from all party structures met yesterday to introspect on our relationship with the UDC. This was after we received so many complaints from party structures that were threatening the party’s stability,” he said.
“Our members in different constituencies showed that UDC affiliates are not respecting the signed agreement of percentage sharing when one is given the constituency they are managing.
The agreement is that those given the area shall contest 60% of the wards while others share 40%, but now some parties fail to honour that.” He further noted that some parties claim to be strongholds for certain areas, therefore, they demand 60% or more and give less percentage to the one managing the area. Moreover, Reatile emphasised that for the sake of peace and stability, it is important that they work as a PACT model to avoid unnecessary conflicts. He said as BPF, they are determined to cooperate with UDC unless political dynamics change. However, The Monitor has learnt that initially, some members had wanted the BPF to stand independently in the general elections while the majority resisted.
According to a source within the party, some members openly told the party leadership that if they wanted to contest outside UDC without cooperating with it, they should kiss other constituencies and wards goodbye. “We have members who are very clear that they will either remain with UDC or go back to Botswana Democratic Party (BDP). People are now getting tired of the drama and fights that are happening, especially within BPF. “Some of our leaders are very greedy; they are the ones who always bring issues and fights to the party. Honestly, they are the ones who have issues with UDC, and now they want to influence members,” the source added.
The source further said the BPF must reflect on the fact that it did not win some areas with a bigger margin, and BDP stands a chance to win if it is not organised. Furthermore, the source stated that what worked for the party in the 2019 General Election might not work for this year’s polls, and the party should refrain from using former president Ian Khama’s name all the time as that might not work for them. The proposed pact model could have significant implications for the upcoming elections, as well as the UDC. With the pact model, UDC will not use it even if it wins the majority of seats in Parliament to take over the government. BPF contested its first general election in 2019 after splitting from BDP. It was formed as a supportive party for Khama, who is its patron. Another dispute between the party and BNF is for Khama to be used as the face of the 2024 General Election, which The Monitor understands the BNF refused to support.