Anti-UDC BNF members to contest as mekoko
Onalenna Kelebeile | Tuesday September 16, 2014 15:35
Among those are opponents of the party’s decision to join the Umbrella for Democratic Change UDC) coalition and those who had lost multiple High Court cases against the party and the president Duma Boko.
Recently, the independent held a political rally in Selebi-Phikwe revealing that they would be launched.
Lemogang Ntime confirmed to Mmegi that they would be launching their independent candidates in Selebi-Phikwe on September 27, 28 and October 6.
The council candidates are Dimpho Moruti for Botshabelo West ward, Maikgantsho Ramontsho for Ikageleng Phase 2 ward and Mmopiemang Basebi for Botshabelo South ward, who recently quit the BNF.
“I can confirm that we will be launching our independent candidates in Selebi-Phikwe as well as around the country.
We have been grossly disappointed over the formation of the UDC.
We will be ensuring that party structures and committees are effectively in place and we are working around the clock because elections are just around the corner while we have so many to launch especially in the southern part of the country,” said Ntime.
In reference to the rally Moruti said they mainly explained to the electorates that they are still steadfast that the BNF should contest the elections on its own not under the UDC because the party is an umbrella on its own.
“That is why it is called a front.
It should form a partnership with associations that share the same ideologies with it not to form another umbrella. We are going to contest as mekoko after which we will fight to defend our BNF,” he argued.
He added that BNF is not a football team to occasionally change sponsors but a political organisation seriously eyeing to take power.
“We should team up with associations we share the same ideologies with.
You cannot think of taking power while you have a scenario where capitalists form a coalition with socialists.
It is as good as expecting Christians and Muslims to worship together because the outcome from this ‘concoction’ is just unimaginable,” he said.
Michael Mzwinila and Ntime are expected to launch the candidates and Moruti said they are currently busy mobilising electorates through house-to-house campaigns.
He said Selebi-Phikwe East area is ripe for BNF independent candidates to win.
Mzwinila who is also an independent parliamentary candidate for Tonota constituency confirmed the planned launches.
He explained that the BNF constitution does not compel any BNF member to join the UDC hence they are not under the umbrella.
On why some of the independent candidates contested and lost UDC primaries before becoming independent candidates Mzwinila said any member is at liberty to contest the primaries. He said some did not even contest the UDC primaries.
UDC publicity secretary Moeti Mohwasa said they are not aware of the planned BNF launches of primary election losers standing as independents.
Mohwasa, who is also a BNF spokesperson and Parliamentary candidate for Selibe-Phikwe West, said the decision for the party to join the umbrella was taken at congress.
He said the disgruntled members might have misunderstood the congress’s resolution.
He emphasised that BNF is still there and that for the party to have joined the Umbrella does not mean it has dissolved.
“This is just a sign of disgruntlement on their part.
They have the right to contest but we plead with them to be honest to the electorate and tell them the truth.
Our focus now as the UDC is on the coming general elections not those petty issues,” said Mohwasa.