Phenyo Segokgo torn between UDC and AP

When the purple movement, Alliance for Progressives (AP) was formed by disgruntled and frustrated members of Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD), people thought Phenyo Segokgo would join. But the youthful leader has since developed cold feet and taken a back step. Even though he is occupying one of the highest paid positions as Chairman of Southeast East District Council, Segokgo is still an independent candidate following his expulsion from the troubled BMD. This week The Midweek Sun caught up with Segokgo at his elegant office in Ramotswa to talk about his next political party. He has since associated with joining Botswana National Front (BNF), Botswana Congress Party (BCP) and re-joining BMD. “I am in a difficult situation at the moment. I never anticipated this to happen. I do not know what to do at the moment. But I shall overcome this situation.” Even his facial expression showed that Segokgo is a man battling with his mind. His usual smile was not there. The Sefhoke ward Concillor said because he was voted under the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) he cannot just leave and join Alliance for Progressives because they are not part of the UDC at the moment. “The council chairmanship is a UDC position. At this moment any party without UDC cannot be in this position. They made it categorically clear that if I decided to go to AP they will have to remove me because the party is not part of UDC. We held a meeting last week I am really afraid at this moment of what will become of me if I take the decision of going out,” said an unsettled Segokgo. When he was voted into his position in June, Segokgo was on the brink of being suspended by his former party BMD, which automatically could have barred him from contesting for re-election. After realising that he could be suspended from the party before the election for chairmanship, the young leader mobilised resources and all those important stakeholders to have the election held before his suspension that ultimately led to expulsion. “I have been clear to my friends in the AP even before AP was formed that if we decide with formation of a new party it has to join UDC. We cannot win the elections without UDC. We cannot postpone regime change in 2019. “I have advised them before and I am still optimistic about it. I am confident that my friends in the AP will find a way to join the UDC and that is when I can be in a position to make a decision. I am still in contact with friends in AP and relay my situation to them,” he said. The party will be launching next weekend in Gaborone. According to reliable sources, Segokgo is waiting for the party to formally announce whether they will join UDC or go solo. If they do not talk anything about working with UDC, Segokgo will definitely join one of the parties in UDC.

“The ball is upon AP leadership,” said a source on condition of anonymity. Segokgo’s response was, “In a couple of weeks I will make a decision about my political party. I wouldn’t wait for AP to join UDC. I am just waiting for the announcement to be made on the 28th October. “I am really confident that by then the AP will decide whether to join or not. I am just going through a personal reflection at the moment.

It is not about joining a new party. This has given me ample time to think about myself. But I am clear that these parties should form one umbrella and that is when we can defeat the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP).” He said all parties in UDC have approached him to join them including BDP. “If I can single out one party, the constituency will think I am doing it for opportunistic reasons, but I can join any party in the UDC,” he added. Segokgo believes the arrival of Sydney Pilane in the BMD caused all the troubles in the party.

“Personally I do not have a problem with him but his arrival into the party really caused a lot of problems for us. We were very close until one man, Pilane, came in. “The coming of him into BMD killed off what remained of the spirit of brotherhood even though there was simmering tension before his arrival. The tension could be resolved because even at Bobonong the two factions were willing to reconcile and compromise but when he arrived at the Police station and everything fell apart. “The two factions could work together if they could agree to take Pilane out of the picture.

We were ready to compromise at that time. Batswana in general have a different view about Pilane and this might cost UDC elections in 2019,” said the disappointed Segokgo adding that Pilane is well positioned to support the UDC while he is out of its structures. While some associate him with BDP, Segokgo says that he will never return to the party because that will be a betrayal of the people’s struggle. “I will never go back to BDP. They have approached me but I will never join them. It will be a huge insult to people who have been supporting me,” he said.

“People should not underestimate the coalition between Botswana National Front (BNF) and Botswana Congress Party (BCP). They are very strong because they have been for a long time. The coalition of Duma Boko and Dumelang Saleshando is a deadly combination. Both parties, AP and UDC should come together to take power in 2019,” said Segokgo. He is currently working with other opposition youth leaders to write a position paper including the AP. While former BNFYL President last week dismissed Boko as a dictator, Segokgo said he is confident that Boko is still the person to lead UDC and he has never seen any traits of dictatorship while working with him.

“People are being subjective when judging him because of the current situation. He has been doing well even in Parliament he has managed to rise to the occasion. I am confident he will be President of the country in 2019. Political issues in 2014 were bad than today but Boko managed to overcome them. He was under serious attack compared to now. This situation is nothing,” said the confident Segokgo. Just like others who have been calling for the release of Gomolemo Motswaledi death report, Segokgo said the UDC should release it because Batswana have contributed monies.

“If the report is ready it should be released to the public. We should close this chapter and move on. We have to be accountable to the funds contributed. We are the government in waiting and we have to be accountable because next time we are going to have several reports. Are we saying people are not supposed to know certain information?” he asked. According to Segokgo, the last time they were told about the report was last year November and they were told the investigators were about to be completed.