Inside the Sekoma Accord
Oarabile Mosikare | Tuesday March 1, 2016 15:26
The MoA is expected to strengthen party-to-party relationships, while also working to increase the understanding of Batswana about social, economic and political problems.
UDC leader, Duma Boko and his BCP counterpart, Dumelang Saleshando signed the MoA during the launch of their Sekoma by-election candidate, Robert Rancho, recently.
According to the MoA, the two parties are desirous of building a stronger foundation as opposition parties, in all future by-elections. This is after realising that such a mutual arrangement is needed to enable them to work together to preserve and protect their struggle for genuine democracy, economic independence, social justice, human rights and peace.
The parties are cognisant that the spirit and purpose of this agreement is to ensure electoral gains, success and victory in any by-election, each of the contracting parties is enjoined both in the selection of candidates and the mounting of the campaigns, to uphold this spirit. The parties are committed that between the years 2016 and the next general elections in 2019, where a by-election is to be held, the contracting parties shall not contest against each other.
The determination as to which of the contracting parties contests any by-election shall be based on the following, in the order in which they appear hereunder: “Whether the contracting party had won the said vacant seat in the 2014 general election or any election subsequent thereto; Whether the contracting party had attained 75% or more of the number of votes attained by the winning candidate in the vacant position who had represented a political party that is not a signatory to this agreement, and where more than one of the contracting parties have obtained this threshold, the party with the highest number of votes shall contest on behalf of the contracting parties”.
Where none of the above applies, then the determination shall be made by the By-elections Joint Committee established in terms of this agreement. Any party dissatisfied with the decision of the By-elections Joint Committee shall, within 48 hours of the delivery of the decision of the By-elections Joint Committee, lodge its appeal with the Contracting Parties’ Leaders Forum, whose decision shall be final.
There shall, therefore, be the Contracting Parties’ Leaders Forum, comprising the presidents and secretary-generals of the contracting parties, which shall regulate its own processes and procedures and be the final appellate body in relation to all matters regulated by this agreement.
There shall be the contracting parties’ By-elections Joint Committee, which shall be responsible for overseeing the implementation of this Agreement. This includes but not limited to coordinating inter-party collaboration and joint campaigns. The composition of the By-elections Joint Committee shall be as determined by the contracting parties.
In the circumstance where none of the contracting parties had fielded candidates in the 2014 general elections, the parties’ By-elections Joint Committee shall have the right to decide which one amongst the contracting parties should contest.
This agreement shall come into force and be binding on the signatories hereto from the date of signature.
“In any of the by-elections which may take place between 2016 and 2019 general elections, the parties shall strive to work in collaboration to engender mutual understanding and respect to fight the BDP [Botswana Democratic Party] and its social injustice and undertake to desist from any actions whatsoever which undermine the contents and the spirit of this Memorandum of Understanding.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the contracting parties acknowledge, confirm and/or agree that this agreement is not and shall not be construed as laying the basis for future cooperation model between and amongst the contracting parties.
To that end, the contracting parties collectively and or individually reserve the right, should negotiations on opposition parties’ cooperation beyond the scope of this agreement (i.e. beyond by-elections) commence, to suggest any mode and form of cooperation during such negotiations.”
MoA concludes that, “In the event of any agreement being reached by the contracting parties as regards opposition parties’ cooperation beyond by-elections before the year 2019, such agreement shall take precedent over this agreement.
We affirm these principles and resolve to move forward with positive and constructive working relationship”.