The majority of political parties are going for their congresses or conferences in July this year. According to the party leadership, such gatherings are not supported by the party's constitution, leaving direct members feeling politically stranded and underrepresented. Tensions came to a head earlier this year when a group of UDC direct members submitted a request to hold a national conference in July. Their proposal was met with a firm rejection by the NEC, which cited constitutional limitations as the basis for its decision.
This development has deepened the frustration among the group, many of whom argue that their concerns are routinely overlooked by the party hierarchy. Currently, the UDC counts three Members of Parliament amongst its direct members. Unlike members affiliated with constituent parties under the UDC coalition, such as the Botswana National Front (BNF), Botswana People's Party (BPP), and Alliance for Progressives (AP), direct members do not belong to any of these alliances. As a result, they find themselves without representation in the NEC, where each affiliate party has a voice through its secretary-general and chairperson. This structural disparity has sparked growing unrest amongst the direct members, who feel increasingly marginalised in the party’s decision-making processes. "The UDC direct members are not catered for as compared to affiliates. There is no one who takes their grievances into consideration, especially when issues of resource allocation and constituency assignments arise," said one concerned member, speaking on condition of anonymity.
