Molutsi quashes UDC one-term claim
Ryder Gabathuse | Monday June 16, 2025 12:06
“But, as you know, the BNF is founded on the principles of free talking or ‘Puo Phaa!’ and it has always been a democratic party in terms of allowing members to talk openly,” explained Molutsi in an interview with Mmegi this week.
There has been talk that the impending BNF elective congress in Palapye, billed for July, has already sparked brouhaha in the corridors of the BNF.
'Even we must admit that sometimes our members’ talk is not constructive. But, naturally, they are free souls and free minds that have historically distinguished the BNF from other parties,” he explains.
As the BNF grows, with some people coming on board, some have not been fully grounded in the culture of the BNF. Those are the pains of growth, and the party leadership has experienced such in the late 1990s, which would culminate in the formation of the opposition Botswana Congress Party (BCP) in 1998.
“It was part of the growth because a lot of people were joining the BNF, like the late Michael Dingake, the late Paul Rantao and many others. It’s the usual pendulum, the high growth. Then the high consequences of high growth,” Moluti said.
Molutsi illuminated that disputes and disagreements went on and on. He was, however, confident that they are well established, “ and we are so resilient, if anything, the major divisions of 1998 could have destroyed the BNF. That one didn’t.”
He thinks the BNF is a very resilient party and that no storm will ever break it up, especially when it is in government.
He is optimistic that the leadership is going to solve the current challenges bedevilling the party, as they are irritating.
“Sometimes our party members are petty because the lobby lists would become factions. They are not necessarily utilising the BNF temporary platforms embedded in the constitution. But, the long and short of it is that we are handling them,” he told Mmegi.
Molutsi was in the MASEBO party region last weekend, and he will be going to other regions as well. He is not the only one talking to party diehards, as the party president and other party head honchos have been addressing party regions.
“We are going to handle that one, and we are looking forward to a successful and smooth congress of the BNF from July 19-23 in Palapye,” he stated.
He also emphasised that the differences visible in the party are not ideological and are not even substantive.
“If you look at them, they are happening in the middle and on the ground and not at the leadership level. You don’t see the leadership fighting. The central committee can meet and discuss issues,” he pointed out. He added that in itself, that shows that people can follow the leaders, as they understand what the party stands for, its ability to deliver government and manifesto promises.
Molutsi does not foresee troubles in the BNF spilling over to the issues of delivery in the running of the government. He sees some of the issues peddled on social media as propaganda from the BNF’s opponents, which is allowed.
“It’s acceptable, and remember we are the UDC and we are in agreement and we shall remain resilient despite the open criticism against us', he said. He would also explain that the Botswana Peoples Party (BPP) and the BNF have been in a political relationship since 2010. And the Alliance for Progressives (AP), another coalition partner, had gone through a cycle and found out a legitimate partner in the UDC under the leadership of the BNF.
Molutsi has been working hard to bring together the women and youth leagues of all the parties affiliated to the UDC in an endeavour to consolidate the bigger UDC leadership.
With regard to the national issues bedevilling the Boko leadership at the UDC-led government, Molutsi, who is the ruling party's chief executive, acknowledges that they don’t enjoy the situation where they are now with the state of the economy, which they found on the ground. “We don’t enjoy it. But, as the English people say: ‘Necessity is the mother of invention’, this comes as a blessing in disguise as it gives the UDC opportunity to show its strength, its superior thinking and interpretation of the challenges of the nation versus their predecessors.
“In other words, we won’t be accused of having found soft things, money in the bank, roads, schools, we won’t be accused of that because everything was allowed to go to the rot as the banks have no money and the national coffers are empty,” he further explains.
He compares the situation with the period in 1966 when Botswana started off with nothing. He credited Botswana leaders of 1966 to have been a creative lot, as the nation was able to survive despite the odds.
“I think there are a lot of positives in the current state. We are working day and night with a view to solving problems confronting us as a nation. We are working hard to see how we can help farmers, both young and old, on how they can feed this nation and create requisite jobs by creating industries and others,” he illuminated.
He cited the production of hemp and safflower, which he says will enhance production and manufacturing, including the creation of necessary jobs.
“We will do that, we are finding markets and partners so that we can create the jobs we have promised Batswana. We are going to ensure that this time around, Batswana are part of the central players in their economy,” he promised.
The UDC agenda is clear that they want a better society. They want a new Botswana. In short, he feels the challenges are sometimes important for people to find solutions.
As for the doubt about Boko and UDC getting a second term, Molutsi says they are aware that, first of all, “we can’t do much in the first five years, we can only start and define the path of our development agenda. That is all you can do in the first five years of being in power.”
Molutsi explained that his party is working around the clock to lay down the foundations of a longer-term government to make sure they win the elections in 2029.
“We know that our opponents will be criticising us, but for us there is no harm, they can do everything possible under the sun as our focus is to win the next polls,” he said, indicating that they welcome criticism as part of democracy.