Opposition parties unite

Staff Writer | Friday February 3, 2017 15:06

Addressing the media at a packed press conference, UDC president Duma Boko said the BCP is officially part of the UDC. This means that all opposition parties in the country have now united under the UDC banner. 

Boko said they have agreed to retain the UDC name with a new brand under a new colour of royal blue. 

“Our colour was decided before the 2011 talks collapsed, which is royal blue, we will be looking forward to creatives in the party to develop the new brand,” he said. 

The contracting parties will collectively continue to pursue a Social Democratic Programme. 

“The policy framework will be shared with all key national stakeholders to ensure that our programme is truly aligned with the aspirations and wishes of our people,” reads a joint statement from the parties. 

The National Executive Committee with a total of sixteen members, with each party represented by four, shall be headed by the President who will be have two vice presidents. 

The Presidency has been given to the BNF while the BCP and the BMD shall occupy the two Vice Presidency positions. 

The BPP has been given the Chairpersonship, administrative secretary and legal affairs secretary. 

BNF will also take communications head and labour secretary while the BCP will also have treasurer and gender affairs. 

BMD will also hold national coordinator and youth affairs. Each party will also be expected to nominate an additional one person to serve in the NEC. 

The BCP has been allocated 17 constituencies, the BNF 22 seats, BMD 14 seats while the BPP gets four. 

The statement states that when a party that has been allocated a constituency is not able to identify a suitable candidate, it will be expected to approach the other parties for assistance in that regard. 

In case of assuming power, the six specially elected members of parliament positions shall be allocated among the parties. BPP will be given two seats while other parties get one each. The sixth seat will be given to that of the latter three substantive constituent groups, which shall have won the lowest number of constituencies in the elections. 

Constituencies will allocate the wards. The whole process is expected to be done by March. 

Over and above the group membership enjoyed by the four parties, individual membership will also be allowed. 

A UDC National Conference will coincide with conferences of the contracting parties and held within the same location.