Let BMD fight their own fight - Boko

Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) President Duma Boko has said that the factional wars at Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) are a true test for the party’s stability. Boko appealed to members of the UDC especially, to allow the BMD to resolve its issues without interference.

Boko, who was officially opening a Botswana Congress Party Youth League (BCPYL) Conference in Ramotswa, said he is convinced that the BMD would come out of this mess a united party.   BMD is currently embroiled in factionalism. This saw some BMD youth converge in Ramotswa this past weekend to host an elective congress even though the party leadership announced that the congress has been postponed.

BMD National Working Committee met last week Tuesday to deliberate on the BMDYL congress and concluded that the congress must be postponed.  Party National Executive Committee leads the BMD factions. Party President Ndaba Gaolathe and his deputy Wynter Mmolotsi leads one faction while Chairman Nehemiah Modubule and Secretary General Gilbert Mangole lead the other faction.

Gaolathe-Mmolotsi faction pushed for the congress while Modubule-Mangole faction was against the congress.  Modubule-Mangole faction is supporting Kagelelo Kentse for the youth presidency while Gaolathe-Mmolotsi support Jacob Kelebeng. Gaolathe officially opened the weekend congress, which was said to be unlawful.

Only one faction voted at the congress as Kentse’s team did not attend the congress. When opening the BCPYL conference, which was meters away from the BMDYL congress, Boko said all the UDC affiliates have experienced what the BMD is going through. UDC is made up of BMD, BCP, Botswana National Front [BNF] and Botswana People Party [BPP].

  Boko told delegates that when he became president of the BNF, the party was divided. He revealed that those who were not strong at the time fell off and the movement remained and emerged stronger. He said the BCP and the BPP have also experienced the same. “Give them time. Let them fight their own fight internally.

There is no disarray. It is an opportunity for degeneration and growth. It would have been disappointing if the BMD could have not gone through this stage. Those who are not strong will leave the BMD and join the BDP. I am calling on all UDC members not to debate the BMD issues but to give them space,” stated Boko.  With only two months left the BMD has not yet decided where it will hold its elective congress in July where a new leadership will be elected.