Khama Spies On UDC Talks
Monkagedi Gaothobogwe | Monday November 7, 2016 17:36
Khama’s revelation about the opposition unity talks details may have put to light how far the President’s eye can see even behind closed doors, with the help of the security apparatus at his disposal, although throughout his revelations Khama safely gave out his informers as “Ma-BCP”.
According to Khama the BCP has proposed a new look opposition to be known as UDC+(BCP), where the president of the party will be elected by delegates at an elective congress in time for the 2019 general elections.
The BCP has proposed that its congress delegates match the number of the UDC delegates, so that when the UDC sends 20, the BCP is also allowed 20 delegates, to reflect that they are negotiating with the BCP as equals, he alleged.
Khama said at the elective congress the BCP delegates’ number will match any UDC number, resulting in a scenario whereby the chances of the BCP winning the presidency of the UDC is high in the event that the various UDC affiliates, the Botswana National Front (BNF), and the Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) each elect their own party leader resulting in vote splitting that will hand the BCP president the UDC leadership on a silver platter. Khama also said the consternation in the talks have irked BMD president Ndaba Gaolathe greatly, so much that he has already expressed his wish to resign from the secretary general’s post. Khama said Gaolathe had even suggested two names to take over from him, Prince Dibeela and BMD Vice President Wynter Mmolotsi.
“However, there is deadlock,” alleged Khama. “The BCP has raised a concern that there is no way they would accept Dibeela option as he is BNF, the same party that also currently enjoys the UDC presidency,” Khama said, He also alleged that the BCP also vehemently opposed Mmolotsi’s candidature, objecting that he was a very difficult person to work with.
Khama went further. The BCP, he said, has also raised a concern about UDC president, Duma Boko’s associate, a certain Elliot, because according to Khama, they believe latter compromises the integrity of the UDC president’s office. However, Boko has refused to listen to the voice of reason, according to Khama.
“The BCP also do not like Boko, because they say he doesn’t consult his fellow UDC partners when making decisions regarding the BCP and UDC talks.”
Khama said contrary to what people read in the newspapers, the UDC and the BCP were yet to reach an understanding about constituency allocations. “It has become a hot potato. BPP alone is demanding seven constituencies, but the UDC have allotted it just one constituency.”