A litany of imperfections rock the UDC :: Mmegi Online

Ousted founding partners, alleged one man show, twice the loser, failed inaugural congress and now suspended vice president are phrases that can be thrown about to describe the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC)’s shortcomings since it was formed. Even though the UDC’s last weekend decision to suspend its vice President Dumelang Saleshando might be a straw that broke the camel’s back, its failed inaugural congress takes the crown. Writes Mmegi Staffer MOMPATI TLHANKANE

Looking back, when the UDC was formed in 2012, then coalition partners, the Botswana National Front (BNF), the Botswana People’s Party (BPP) and the now ousted Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) had little in common other than a desire to remove the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) from power.

The ‘People’s Project’ as the UDC is touted, was formed because the three parties didn’t have enough seats in the National Assembly among other reasons. It was a historic occasion when multitudes of opposition political party members thronged Gaborone Secondary School (GSS) grounds to witness history being made when the opposition coalition UDC was launched.

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