UDC orders BMD to hold special congress
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Friday October 27, 2017 18:00
The decision was made despite the fact that former BMD members who have been demanding a congress rerun, recently left to form the Alliance for Progressives (AP).
In addition, BMD president, Sidney Pilane has claimed that the UDC does not have power on the affairs of BMD.
The UDC national executive committee (NEC) met on Monday at the Oasis Motel where they took the resolution. This, according to a source is aimed at legitimising the BMD leadership. “I cannot comment on the matter. If there is anything to share, we will talk to you,” UDC spokesperson Moeti Mohwasa said.
Mmegi has learnt that the UDC president, Duma Boko was supposed to have written a letter to the BMD this week, but the letter has not yet been delivered.
The source said the UDC NEC has given the BMD three months to have held the special congress or inform UDC why it is impossible to hold it in that period.
A source said the BMD issue will again be discussed by the UDC members on February 28, 2018 congress where their resolution on the matter will be implemented.
“The members have been calling for the BMD expulsion from the UDC. The UDC might go to 2019 elections without the BMD.
Both the Botswana National Front (BNF) and the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) are not comfortable with the BMD, especially its leadership,” a source said.
The source further revealed that the UDC congress will run simultaneously with its launch.
Recently, Boko asserted that there is no legitimate BMD leadership due to the circumstances in which the elections were held during the July congress.
Boko said the environment in which elections were held was not conducive for a free and fair congress. It thus makes those who were voted there illegitimate.
However, the BMD, which has already written a letter seeking recognition by the UDC, is steadfast that they are part of the coalition and will be sending their representatives soon.
Pilane has also said on radio that the other party does not have any powers to take any action against the BMD. He said any party that has issues could leave the UDC.
BMD vice president, Tlamelo Mmatli has already threatened that all those leaving the BMD for other UDC partners will not contest under the party in the wards and constituencies allocated to the BMD.
The UDC NEC meetings have not been involving BMD since the (in)famous Bobonong violent congress.