BNF mobilises 'unity talks' team

EPHRAIM KEORENG
Staff Writer | Tuesday January 25, 2011 00:00

 

In a statement to the press, BNF spokesman, Moeti Mohwasa, said BNF youth league president, Kagiso Ntime, Maemo Bantsi, David Rendoh, Tshiamo Rantao, Kirsten Marobela, Mokgweetsi Kgosipula and Member of Parliament, Abram Kesupile will make up the team.

Mohwasa has explained that Kgosipula and Kesupile will be alternative members of the team. The party spokesman said the BNF politburo discussed the issue of opposition cooperation after the 2010 Mochudi Congress resolved that the party should engage other opposition parties with a view to working together in the forthcoming general elections.

'As the nation might recall, the party invited the BMD and the BCP to its congress and since then there has been a close working relationship between the opposition parties. This situation cannot, however, be attributed to any single party and we are encouraged by the high level of maturity and magnanimity that has characterised the relations within opposition circles. The BNF noted and appreciated the invitations that have been extended to it by the other opposition parties to their activities,' he said.

Responding to concerns that other opposition parties' support for the Botswana Peoples' Party (BPP) at the Shashe Mooke by-election might destabilise the cooperation as the BNF has a candidate in the area, the party said there is nothing to worry about.  'It has to be stated that the BNF does not have any problem with any other party contesting or supporting a different opposition from us in the by-election since there is no formal agreement between the parties regarding by-elections. What matters is the interests and conscience of the parties just like we supported the BCP in Tonota North when there was no agreement between us and them,' he said.

Mohwasa said BNF president, Duma Boko, will launch their candidate, Odirile Ngenda, on February 5, in Shashe Mooke.  The statement said discussing opposition cooperation does not mean that they have become one party.

He added that there will be differences in terms of policies and strategies.  'The most important thing is how these differences are handled, and so far we are happy with the progress that has been made. The fact that the BCP has decided to throw its weight behind the BPP in Shashe Mooke has not affected our relations with the party and therefore should not be seen as a signal of the collapse of opposition cooperation talks. The meeting resolved to encourage our members to avoid making inflammatory remarks against other parties nor respond to them,' he said.

'It was further resolved to write letters to BMD and MELS enlisting their support in the by-election since they have not as yet decided who they will support in Shashe-Mooke,' he said.