Gaolathe faction divided over new party
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Wednesday September 20, 2017 13:03
Mmegi has it in good authority that although there are claims that the faction is on its way to forming a new party, some leaders feel it would only be viable if it joins the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC). Although many believe in principle that they should form the party some feel that they could be part of it if it affiliates to UDC.
One of the leaders rumoured to be sceptical of joining Gaolathe’s purple movement is councillor Phenyo Segokgo. Segokgo has been fired from BMD and currently does not belong to any party. BMD is a coalition member of the UDC. “There is a lot at stake as someone like Phenyo Segokgo might lose his seat as the chairperson of the South East District Council (SEDC). There are also many others who know they are likely to lose their seats if they dare step out of the UDC,” a source said.
The SEDC has seven Botswana Congress Party (BCP) councillors, six from Botswana National Front (BNF) and Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) has eight, and that alone does not sit well with Segokgo if he defects. “Segokgo also fears that Tlokweng is purely BNF and he won his council ward by the help of the BNF voters. If we form a party now, it means structures would be built next year which will be late,” the source said.
Segokgo has confirmed his non-committal stance. When Mmegi approached him on the matter, the recent past president of the BMD Youth League said he will be focussing on his constituents to develop them and his energy is channelled on that. “If at all we form it then I will remain independent for now as I weigh all options,” Segokgo said.
Another leader said to have expressed misgivings is the Gaborone North legislator Haskins Nkaigwa. But the former Gaborone City mayor has denied allegations that he is developing cold feet to join the envisaged party.
The maverick Nkaigwa, a member of Gaolathe’s National Executive Committee insisted that a final resolution has not been taken for the formation of the new party.
He said it was not true that today Gaolathe will be announcing the formation of the new movement.
“Gaolathe will be updating members on what is happening and the verdict taken by the UDC. If the party is formed, we will do all necessary processes like we did when forming the BMD. The new party will ask for affiliation at the UDC. The UDC is our project which we spent money and energy on it,” Nkaigwa said yesterday.