State President Minister Kabo Morwaeng convened the All Party Conference recently and what also came out was fear that the BCP which contested the 2019 General Election under the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) could get nothing because it didn’t go at it solo. Saleshando, whose party left the UDC in 2022, told the media this week that they are not asking for a share from the P34.6 million set aside for political funding but rather the BCP is entitled to the funds as a political party. “Get us clear, we are not asking from the party funding pot, we are entitled, we are legitimate political players,” he said. Saleshando also said political party funding is about levelling the playing field therefore, they have every right to get their share of the money. “We are not illegitimate, we are truly entitled,” he pointed out, adding that those in the opposition who maintain that the BCP will get nothing are just jokers.
Saleshando said he has heard people saying that the UDC and Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) will be the only two parties that will benefit much from the funds. “That is not going to happen. We are not fighting for the money, it is ours, we have paid the tax, we have demonstrated our worth as a political party, we delivered 11 seats as the BCP under the UDC,” he added. Saleshando stated that the BCP participated in the 2019 General Election and won 11 seats out of a possible 20 that they were allocated by the UDC. He said they were part of a coalition and their participation was just a matter of configuration which can be explained. “The only thing we changed was a symbol,” he highlighted. He indicated that if the money is distributed according to the number of seats won then the BCP will still get their share because they won 11 seats in 2019. He said coalition partnership is more like motshelo because when it is time to quit no one can deny them what they have contributed. Saleshando said everyone knows what the BCP has contributed to the UDC therefore, it cannot be denied or ignored.
The Maun West legislator said anyone who has a strong argument that BCP is not a political party and did not participate in the 2019 General Election is dishonest. Morwaeng recently opined that the arrangement of the opposition parties in the All Party Conference places other parties that are not members of any coalition at a disadvantage. He said the BCP and UDC attend the All Party Conference alongside their individual party members, this therefore, begs the question of who are the two entities representing. He said it should be clear if the BCP members still represent the UDC so that everything could be fair and to create a levelled field for political parties.
