BCP, BNF Fight Over Gabs Central

Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday February 11, 2019 18:00

 

The Botswana National Front (BNF) Gaborone Central Constituency committee has issued a statement complaining against the Botswana Congress Party’s (BCP) decision to announce a candidate while discussions are still ongoing.

BCP Youth League Publicity Secretary, Jackson Koko on Saturday wrote a post on Facebook stating that they endorse Mpho Pheko as the UDC candidate in the Gaborone Central constituency. This has irked the BNF who want the constituency to be given to one of their own, Billy Sekgororoane.

The BNF was irked by the statement and called on the BCP to retract it.

“We wish to put it on  record and categorically denounce such a false announcement which seeks to confuse UDC members and the general public,” reads the statement.

“Further, as the BNF Constituency Committee, we view and treat such an announcement as that of the BCP in the absence of any rebuttal or clarification from the BCP leadership.”

The statement further states that the BNF has withdrawn from the bilateral talks that began last week. They accused the BCP of negotiating in bad faith hence their withdrawal and announcement of Sekgororoane as their candidate.

“We wish to put it on record that when the BCP joined the coalition, they were allocated 17 constituencies  and UDC was allocated 40 constituencies. After the departure of the BMD, it is only logical for the constituency to be re- allocated to either the BNF or BPP. The Machiavellian tactics of the BCP deserve condemnation and we are reliably informed by our comrades that this is their modus operandi countrywide. As the BNF Gaborone Constituency Committee, we will not allow it,” they stated.

Contacted for a comment, Koko said he was carrying out an instruction through his statement. “I was delegated by the Youth League to issue the statement after we had agreed to endorse Pheko. They are also free to endorse who they want, it is democracy in action. The structures set up for negotiations will still continue with their work and we will at the end have the best candidate,” he said.

For his part, UDC mouthpiece, Moeti Mohwasa said it was wrong for anyone to endorse people while there is a process.

“It is wrong for anyone to be publicly endorsing candidates. We encourage all those who have preferred candidates to hand the names to the relevant structures that have been set up in constituencies,” he said.

Mohwasa further said it was unacceptable for the BNF Constituency Committee to issue a statement as they do not have authority to do so.

“We all need to refrain from doing things that make us look disorganised as a party waiting to take over government,” he said.