BPP unhappy with constituency allocations
Correspondent | Thursday February 9, 2017 12:13
They make suggestions that the BPP was sabotaged and was given a raw deal. It would soon be obvious that their suggestions imply that the BPP has been pushed off the edge and has been cast as a non-significant component of a larger machine. This line of thinking has motivated some to question the intentions of those who represented the BPP at the cooperation talks.
Even if we do not want to subscribe to these theories, their significance makes them important points to be just shrugged off. The BPPYL has registered its concerns about these with the BPP central committee and has given notice to petition the central committee about these issues.
We have questioned the criteria and rationale employed in delivering constituencies to the different parties within the UDC. We have also made a point questioning the rationale of the BPP’s continued participation in the UDC whereas the operations of the UDC appear to be regressive to its long-term agenda. The main agenda on the table at the BPP apart from regime change is to transform the BPP into a modern and relevant political organisation. The objectives of the agenda cannot be achievable if the BPP is underrepresented in key political functions around the country.
The number of constituencies suggested to have been allocated to the BPP cannot under any circumstance be acceptable. We have moved to demand the central committee to secure at least eight (8) constituencies in order for the deal to be considered inclusive and for the BPP to attain a fair representation countrywide.
Suggestions were made in the past, indicating that the BPP was an insignificant partner within the UDC, with some believing that the attainment of the UDC’s objectives can never be affected by BPP’s lack of participation in the cooperation.
Today we are telling them and the rest of the world that this narrative is reckless and entirely wrong. And we may be forced to prove it wrong if issues are not addressed diligently.
Suggestions of the central committee imply that, the BPP takes full responsibility of the outcome of the UDC cooperation talks and does not in any respect doubt the credibility and intentions of those it sanctioned to negotiate on its own behalf.
The BPP will officially reflect on the final outcome of the cooperation talks and formalise its position in the near future. In the meantime our friends and comrades should remain calm and focused, the anomaly will be corrected.
It is important to note that prior to the Friday announcement, the BPP had formalised its disagreements and furnished the UDC with a position, laying claim to several other constituencies.
However, at the time of the public announcement the UDC was yet to react to the position taken by the BPP. As that may be, it does not imply that the BPP’s position of disagreement was invalidated.
The Grand Old BPP is regrouping.
TAKULA LENYATSO*
*Takula Lenyatso is the president of BPP Youth League