UDC Road: �It has not been an easy road�
Duma Boko | Tuesday February 7, 2017 15:31
These negotiations led to the launch of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which culminated in the joint participation of opposition parties in Sekoma, Ramotswa, Kalakamati, Tsabong and Palapye by-elections. The positive results we registered in Tsabong and Palapye are a clear testimony of what this cooperation can achieve.
We will be deluding the nation if we say that this trajectory that we set for ourselves was smooth. It has not been an easy road. There were huge challenges, but this is normal in any form of negotiations.
Sure proof that there have been real negotiations is when no negotiator walks out of the negotiation table feeling triumphant because negotiations are by nature not a zero sum exercise. You win some and lose some.
What is however important and makes us look back on this journey with a sense of pride and joy is that today marks an important milestone as we announce our coming together to form one body.
The successful conclusion of this process would not have been possible without the unwavering commitment of the leadership and the entire membership of the four parties.
This was a response to a plea by our people for the opposition to stop splitting votes and work together.
The most prominent instance of vote splitting is the 2014 general elections where our joint popular vote sat at 53.55% while the ruling party attained 46.45%.
Our experiences from the previously failed attempts to unite as the opposition and the continued misrule by the BDP fortified our resolve to ensure that we delivered this project.
The genuine commitment of the negotiating parties is bound to deliver a fair, durable and sustainable deal. At the end of the negotiations which started with a retreat in Polokwane in December 2015 it was agreed as follows;
1. Policies
There was agreement on policies. 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.
2. The Brand
There shall be a unitary brand. All the four parties will be contesting the elections under one symbol.
3. The Name
The name of the entity shall remain the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC).
4. The organisational Structure
The National Executive Committee shall be headed by the President who will have two Vice Presidents. The Presidency has been given to the BNF while the BMD and the BCP shall occupy the two Vice Presidency positions. What is however left are specific functions to accommodate layers which will be achieved by way of allocation of functions.
The BPP has been given the Chairpersonship. The other positions have been allocated as follows;
Treasurer- BCP
Administrative Secretary-BPP
Communications Head- BNF
National Coordinator- BMD
Youth Affairs Secretary- BMD
Labour Secretary- BNF
Legal Affairs Secretary-BPP
Gender Affairs- BCP
Each party will also be expected to nominate an additional one person to serve in the National Executive Committee (NEC). Therefore the NEC will have a total of sixteen (16) members, with each party represented by 4 members.
5. Constituency Allocations
The process of constituency allocation has been completed. The BCP was allocated 17 constituencies while the UDC got 40 seats.
The parties have agreed that there should be an effort made to ensure that the candidate who stands on the UDC enhances the prospects of the organisation winning in the general elections. Where a party that has been allocated a particular constituency is not able to identify a suitable candidate, it will be expected to approach the other parties for assistance in that regard. A provision has been made for bi-laterals between the parties (BPP, BCP, BMD, BNF) to allow for trade-offs where necessary.
The six specially elected Members of Parliament positions shall be allocated two to the Botswana People’s Party (BPP), one each to the Botswana Congress Party, The Botswana Movement for Democracy, and the Botswana National Front, and the remaining sixth position shall be allocated to that of the latter three substantive constituent group members which shall have won the lowest number of constituencies in the elections.
6. Ward Allocation
As a way of encouraging participation by structures of the four parties in this project, allocation of wards will be undertaken by the constituencies. Guidelines on how to go about this will be given to them.
The whole process is expected to be completed by the end of MARCH 2017. Where the structures fail to reach consensus, a team made up of Secretary Generals of the four contracting parties will intervene and their decision shall be final and binding. All the parties constituting the UDC and the BCP shall have equal numbers of specially elected members.
7. Individual membership.
Over and above the group membership enjoyed by the four parties, individual membership will also be allowed.
The members who fall under this category will enjoy limited rights and in order to enjoy full rights like other members they will have to join one of the contracting parties.
8. National Conference
It was agreed that there be a UDC National Conference that will coincide with Conferences of the contracting parties. These Conferences will be held within the same location.