Opposition cooperation talks to start in earnest
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Thursday January 7, 2016 14:34
All the parties have revealed that they are eager to commence the talks as soon as possible. Yesterday UDC head of elections Tapiso Kgosikoma told Mmegi that they are waiting for all parties to report to duty after the festive season so that they could prepare for the engagement.
“All parties are ready for the talks to begin,” he said. “At least we have been cooperating in by-elections. We are still to sign a Memorandum of Agreement on the by-elections.”
Kgosikoma said the UDC hoped that the talks would not take long because all parties needed to prepare for 2019 general elections.
BCP publicity secretary, Dithapelo Keorapetse, confirmed that his party is ready to commence the talks.
Keorapetse said: “Our party has written to UDC leadership last year that we are ready for cooperation talks to begin.
“It was agreed that the dates and month would be set this year. The executive committee for the party is meeting today (Thursday) to discuss the party activities for the year. There is no way the issue of cooperation could not be on the agenda.”
A Gaborone-based political analyst, Anthony Morima, said Batswana have confidence on opposition parties.
“Since last year we have realised that slowly opposition parties are trying to work together,” he said. “I think it is very important that they start talks early because time is not on their side. Next year all parties will be preparing for general elections and it would be advisable for opposition to finish their talks on time.”
Morima said opposition should have a time frame in which they expect their talks to be concluded.