BCP, BMD grapple with constituencies' swap

Dumelang Saleshando.PIC: MORERI SEJAKGOMO
Dumelang Saleshando.PIC: MORERI SEJAKGOMO

FRANCISTOWN: In a move that may threaten the unity of the Botswana Congress Party (BCP), the party executive has reportedly resolved to give the Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) the Francistown West constituency. This is in exchange for the Maun West constituency, Mmegi has established.

The development now means that BCP president Dumelang Saleshando will contest the next general elections in Maun West.  It is an open secret that for months, the BCP has been looking for a suitable constituency where it will field Saleshando at the 2019 general elections.   Initially, the BCP had proposed that it be given Maun West in exchange of Nata-Gweta. The BMD declined the offer from their Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) partners. The BMD intends to give Francistown West to the Botswana People’s Party (BPP) who are also part of the UDC coalition.

The decision may come as a shock to many political pundits and BCP members for one simple reason; the party recently stated that it is not willing to trade off the Francistown West constituency to the BMD. Mmegi has established that the decision to give Francistown West to BMD was taken during a BCP executive committee meeting held last week.

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