Boko lied – Mangole BMD could work with AP – Pilane

Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) has disparaged Umbrella for Democratic (UDC) President Duma Boko’s utterances in which he suggested that BMD must sort out their differences before thinking of retracing their steps back to the opposition coalition. BMD Secretary General Gilbert Mangole told a press briefing in Gaborone recently that they have not received anything from UDC since their expulsion late last year and dismissed as “untrue,” sentiments expressed by Boko a fortnight ago. “I heard him (Boko) saying that they told us to sort ourselves out and that is when we will rejoin the Umbrella, but that is not true.“The last letter we received from UDC was the expulsion letter and that was it, so saying those sorts of things in front of the public is not right and as things stand our case is still at court as we await their response,” he said. Mangole began his address to the press by explaining his main reasons for stepping down from his position as Chief Whip of Opposition in Parliament. “The current political development within the ranks of the opposition makes it difficult for me to continue in that position because when I assumed this post there were still tensions within the union which is one of the factors that fuelled my resignation. “I parted ways with them amicably as we agreed, they will soon appoint someone from either Botswana Congress Party (BCP) or Botswana National Front (BNF),” said Mangole.On the other hand, BMD President Advocate Sidney Pilane said, “People will always talk about our (BMD) affairs but what I can confidently say is that we are going to win our case against UDC and come the General Elections we will all be contesting under UDC ticket as we were unfairly dismissed.” Pilane said that UDC was given 14 days to respond to their case but they have not yet said anything. He was optimistic that UDC will have nothing to respond “as we are innocent to all those accusations they said we are facing.” Pilane reiterated that UDC will never survive without BMD in the coalition because “we are the ones who built UDC when they accumulated more seats in Parliament back in 2014.“We (BMD) know very much how to build, we were the ones who helped BNF get the seats they acquired in Parliament in 2014 as we know how to work the ground unlike them who will be just talking with no way forward. “I am the one who brought BCP to play and they are now ganging against us to the extent of unfairly expelling us from the coalition,” he said.Quizzed about thoughts of marriage with Alliance for Progressives (AP), Pilane said, “Yes, we once held unofficial talks with AP President Ndaba Gaolathe as they are BMD members as well, maybe something could come out, who knows but we cannot divulge anything thus far.” BMD leadership used the press conference to welcome their new members (councillors) to the party namely; Lemogang Kalaote (who was absent) and Ezekiel Mmoloke together with their followers who seemed united and ready to work under the BMD towards the General Elections.