By-elections halt UDC+ launch
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Tuesday January 24, 2017 16:48
The party leaders have stated that due to the by-election preparations, they could not complete some of the items in their agendas prior to the launch. It is understood that party presidents are to meet this week to finalise the reports that they were given by the executive committee responsible for cooperation talks.
The four party presidents are those of the Botswana People’s Party (BPP), Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD), Botswana National Front (BNF) and Botswana Congress Party (BCP). During the talks, it was the UDC and the BCP negotiating, not individual parties.
“Report on cooperation talks launch has been postponed to next week. Our concentration was on the by-elections and other things could not be finished on time. Of course, meetings for party presidents is very important since they could not amend some things in the report or make changes,” UDC head of communications, Moeti Mohwasa said yesterday in an interview.
Mmegi has learnt the party presidents will sign the final report this week. Even though the UDC+ will be launched, the wards allocation will not be complete since parties have been given up to end of March to finalise the allocation.
“It is expected that a party, which had been given a constituency, should get 40% of the wards in that area while others share 60% of the wards of the same area. The 60% will be shared by parties, which exist in that area. The parties are expected to have meetings at constituency level to divide the wards fairly,” source said.
On leadership positions, it was agreed that UDC+ should be led by the BNF president Duma Boko, his deputy will be Ndaba Gaolathe of the BMD while the BCP president Dumelang Saleshando will be the secretary general. The BPP president Motlatsi Molapisi will be the chairperson of the coalition.