Gaolathe faction breaks away to form new party
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Thursday August 24, 2017 18:00
Yesterday evening, senior leaders of the faction met in Gaborone where they reportedly resolved that they could no longer wait for the intervention of the Umbrella for Democratic Change’s National Executive Committee (UDC NEC). The UDC NEC was charged with hearing from the warring BMD factions and deciding on the way forward. Last week, the Sidney Pilane-led faction of the BMD requested a deferment to September of its UDC NEC hearing, saying Pilane and other NEC leaders were unavailable. Meanwhile, during their hearing on Tuesday, the Gaolathe camp, which came armed with witnesses and regional chairpersons, gave the UDC NEC until August 31 to have resolved the crisis.
Yesterday, several sources said the Gaolathe faction had run out of patience with the UDC NEC and the Pilane camp, and had decided to pursue registration of a breakaway party. Names being proposed include the Botswana People’s Movement and Botswana Progressive Movement, while the party colour is reportedly purple. “During consultations with the structures, people have been pushing for the formation of a new party, but the leadership has been saying we should wait for the UDC NEC,” a highly placed insider said. “A time-frame was given to the leaders to resolve this through the UDC NEC.
“The request by the Pilane faction for a deferment shows that they are playing delaying tactics and it is time for a fresh start.”
Another sources said: “Gaolathe team leaders have been visiting structures and it has become apparent that P500,000 will be needed to brand the new party.”
Several Gaolathe faction members took to social media yesterday with cryptic posts alluding to a “fresh start”. Mogoditshane legislator, Sedirwa Kgoroba wrote that it was “time to go”. “My person is deficient of denialism. It’s time to go so let’s go. BMD is just a road sign, which can be knocked down and be replaced by a new one. Of essence is the direction to where we are going not a signpost. It’s time to go, let us go,” he wrote. Another activist posted “we are gone,” while another said, “sa le e chaile”. Gaolathe team secretary general, Phenyo Butale, played his cards close to his chest when contacted for comment yesterday, only conceding that a meeting was held in the camp.
“I cannot state the agenda of our meeting. It is true that UDC NEC briefed us that the Pilane team had requested to be heard either at the beginning of September or in the middle. “On the issue of the new party, it’s up to the members to decide,” Butale said yesterday.
For his part, UDC spokesperson Moeti Mohwasa said it was important to hear both sides of the BMD saga. “It is true that we have received the letter from the Pilane faction asking for a hearing at the beginning of September. We have told them that it is important to hear both sides of the story before the committee advises, or comes out with a solution,” he said.
The Pilane faction recently wrote to the UDC NEC stating that while they were happy for the intervention, the UDC could not call for a new BMD congress.
Mmegi has been informed that the new party may work with the Botswana People’s Party and the Botswana Federation of Public, Private, Parastatals Sector Unions (BOFEPUSU). It may also seek affiliation to the UDC, although this is not yet clear.