UDC recommends power sharing to BMD factions
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Wednesday September 20, 2017 10:26
This is a decision of the UDC National Executive Committee (NEC) on the matter of the BMD that was delivered by president, Duma Boko at Oasis Motel last night. The BMD is divided between a faction led by Ndaba Gaolathe and the other one belonging to Advocate Sidney Pilane. “The UDC considered the representations made and carefully examined the documentation presented to it. After considering the factual matrix emerging from the representations as well as the documentation, the UDC NEC noted a pertinent matter that was, undoubtedly, common cause between both groups,” Boko said.
Boko also said both groups agreed that the main starting point in understanding the BMD crisis is their last elective congress in Gantsi. They stated that since their Gantsi congress there has never been harmony, cooperation, collegiality and any semblance of esprit de corps amongst the members of the BMD NEC. The members viewed each other with suspicion that escalated into, and manifested itself as, lack of cooperation and camaraderie within the leadership.
“This atmosphere of mutual suspicion and lack of trust continued through the preparations for the Congress to be held at Matshekge in Bobonong. The receipt of names, and accreditation of delegates for the Congress occurred in this environment.” He explained that there was a considerable presence of security personnel at Matshekge which was assisted by dogs. Those who were not delegates were denied entry into the precincts of the hall where the Congress was to take place, and it was indicated that only the delegates would be allowed in.
He added: “The other pertinent point of agreement between the two groups is that misunderstandings flared up at Matshekge and escalated into open violence in the course of which several people were injured and the police were called.” He said following what happened in Bobonong the UDC was engaged and requested to intervene. It took a decision to do so and duly engaged the two parties. He said there was a flurry of unpleasant exchanges on social media and vicious attacks on each other by members of the UDC.
“Some took the liberty to attack and malign the leadership as well. There was a veritable media frenzy driven by outbursts of blatantly partisan punditry by many who purported to be analysts and who made it their business to pay simplistic lip service to issues rather than capture and portray their complexity.” Addressing Gaolathe faction, he said the position of the UDC is that the Ramotswa Youth League congress be vacated and set aside. They must accept that Matshekge was the legitimate venue for the 2017 BMD elective congress. They must accept that Pilane is a member of the BMD.
“Submit to a power-sharing arrangement with the other group, the precise terms of which will be discussed and agreed upon with the other group under the oversight and supervision of the UDC.” To Pilane faction he said: “The position of the UDC is that all expulsions that took place in the lead up to the Bobonong Elective Congress must be vacated and set aside. The environment leading up to, and including that which prevailed at Matshekge, was not conducive to the running of a free and fair congress”.
He also advised them to submit to a power-sharing arrangement, the precise terms of which will be discussed and agreed upon with the other group under the oversight and supervision of the UDC. “They must both submit to a power sharing arrangement to be discussed by and between both of them and overseen and supervised by the UDC. This will prefigure the engagement of experts and professional mediators by the UDC to help resolve the tensions and restore relations in order to attain peace within the BMD.
“Only after these initial and adjacent first steps are undertaken would it be possible to chart the way toward a permanent and durable solution to be agreed and undertaken by all. The UDC commits to engaging professional mediators, at its own cost, to help heal the BMD and assist to restore the organisation to peace and stability.”