Moremi�s resignation throws UDC into confusion

Pini Bothoko | Wednesday February 8, 2017 11:50

 

Moremi reportedly expressed a desire to remain within the Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) but resign from the UDC, which the BMD is a member of. The National Assembly however only recognises the ruling BDP, UDC and the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) as parties in the House.

The move came days after the historic opposition unity agreement under which the Botswana National Front (BNF), BMD, BCP and Botswana People’s Party (BPP) have agreed to form a single unit and contest the 2019 elections as a united front of the UDC.

Moremi, however, had last year made known his plans to quit UDC via social media. Moremi’s move effectively makes him a Parliamentary independent, a fate sealed when Parliament Speaker, Gladys Kokorwe moved him to a different seat on the opposition wing of the National Assembly on Monday.

Yesterday, BMD secretary general, Gilbert Mangole, said Moremi’s move had caught the party by surprise and added that the Batawana paramount chief could not be part of the BMD if he is not part of the UDC.

“The announcement came to us as a shock because we have not yet received a resignation letter from him. His future is unknown because we are part of the UDC coalition and he cannot be a BMD member only without being a member of the UDC,” Mangole said.

Mangole said Moremi’s sole course of action now was to resign from the BMD as well, as the BMD is a member of the UDC.

“Moremi’s situation is complicated at the moment because he has been having dual membership of the BMD and the UDC. At the moment, we do not regard him as our MP because we are part of the UDC which he has resigned from,” said Mangole.

Mangole said losing Moremi was a blow to the BMD and the opposition effort in general. “Losing a person of Moremi’s calibre is a serious loss to the BMD as well as UDC and it might impact badly on the party,” he said.

“It hurts me because people out there do not understand his circumstances but for us it’s better because we know and understand him together with his recent actions.”

Moremi recently posted on social media, that he would not seek another term in the 2019 general elections. Late last year, he also posted a few cryptic comments that many interpreted to be his unhappiness with the UDC and its leaders.

Moreover, he has been writing about his challenges with health issues, even accusing the Government, Parliament, especially Kokorwe of wanting to institutionalise him at a mental health institution, Sbrana, in Lobatse.

Efforts to contact Moremi were fruitless yesterday as his phone was off.