UDC plots to replace bmd with bofepusu

Outspoken labour activist Ketlhalefile Motshegwa has been tipped to run for political office at Gaborone Central Constituency as labour centre Botswana Federation of Public Private and Parastatal Sector Unions (BOFEPUSU) joins the political game.

The Deputy Secretary General of BOFEPUSU Motshegwa is expected to run for 2019 parliamentary elections in Gaborone Central. Information gathered by Botswana Guardian is that expectation has been that Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) will be giving BOFEPUSU some constituencies among them a few in Gaborone. If that were to happen, then lobbying is expected to persuade BOFEPUSU Deputy Secretary General to contest in the constituency of Gaborone Central.

Motshegwa is a well known fearless and formidable Trade Unionist and human rights activist, a political capital that is expected to be weighty in the campaign. It is understood that initially Motshegwa was approached by people in his home village of Mmadinare, but declined to contest. Motshegwa has for long been associated with contesting for elections in Mmadinare.Sources have revealed that Motshegwa was recently approached by some members of the UDC National Executive Committee (NEC).

It is alleged that the delegation came from contracting partners- Botswana Congress Party (BCP) and Botswana National Front (BNF). Ever since the toxic relationship within the UDC between BCP-BNF and Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) together with Botswana People’s Party (BPP), BCP and BNF have been exploring ways of working together to form a pact.

In the proposed working relationship the two political movements want to tag BOPFEUSU along. However, BNF’s Justin Hunyepa has rubished this claims saying his party has not approached any organisation outside the umbrella. “We are currently engaging stakeholders within the Umbrella and we are trying to implement the BNF Rakops resolutions,” he said in a telephone interview Wednesday. BOFEPUSO has been playing an influential role in the country’s politics since the 2011 historic public sector strike.

UDC which now intends to suspend and eventually kick out BMD is expected to hand over some of the BMD Constituencies to BOFEPUSU. Indications are that most of well known BOFEPUSU leaders would be considering contesting for Parliamentary seats.BOFEPUSU recently dismissed claims by BMD President Advocate Sidney Pilane that his party has been in talks with the labour movement to explore possible ways of working together.

The federation distanced itself from an engagement with Advocate Pilane or any member of his party. BOFEPUSU has indicated that it would be scrutinising political parties in the country and any party that is talking to the workers’ issues would enjoy the federation’s backing.

Early this year BOFEPUSU Labour Secretary Johnson Motshwarakgole said they have capable cadres who are also Parliamentary material. He said the federation has options of fielding its members if political parties are not prepared to come to the table and put workers first.Contacted for comment, Motshegwa said he has not been consulted on the matter, and that currently he has his efforts committed to workers’ struggle through the Union BLLAHWU and the Federation BOFEPUSU.

Should Motshegwa take up the challenge, then he will face area MP Dr Phenyo Butale of Alliance for Progressives, Botswana Democratic Party’s Tumisang Healy Mangwegape and Thabo Autlwetse of the BMD if the BMD is kicked out of the UDC. Other leaders of labour movement are also expected to go for parliamentary elections under UDC ticket as the labour movement wants to influence decision making in pursuit of workers’ rights.