The double candidacy of UDC hurts party supporters

Supporters of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) are unhappy with the double candidacy row within the coalition, fearing that it will affect the UDC negatively at the polls and hand the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) an easy win.

Katlego Gabanagae of Molepolole is unhappy with the way things are looking in Molepolole South and other constituencies where members of the UDC are at loggerheads over who should represent the party in the upcoming elections.

Gabanagae said what the UDC is doing in Molepolole is tantamount to giving the BDP a strategic advantage over them. He explained that this can lead to vote splitting in the opposition coalition, which bodes well for the BDP.

He said that the UDC cannot afford to do this in Molepolole South as the BDP has fielded only one person, and is doing the needful to get re-elected in the elections while the opposition wastes time on fighting.

Gabanagae describes the double candidacy issue as an embarrassment, adding that political leaders should learn to listen to one another and not fight over things that will cost them regime change.

He fears that this issue may end up dividing the coalition as evidently there is no team work and unity.

Former University of Botswana (UB) Student Representative Council (SRC) Minister of Academic Affairs and Administrative Secretary Leonard Rambwawasvika, is worried that the UDC leadership took a very long time than expected to resolve the issue.

Rambwawasvika explained that this delays the official campaigns of some candidates and resources such as time are wasted whilst barking down the wrong tree.

More tragic than lost time and resources is that some people are losing faith in the UDC project. He noted that the regime change, which they all long for in the UDC, may be a far-fetched dream if people do not vote for the UDC in large numbers.

Rambwawasvika wondered why Mohwasa has not come out to pave a way forward for the opposition coalition. He said that it is bad that the UDC has confirmed and unveiled only 40 candidates with just a few months from the elections. However, Rambwawasvika believes all hope is not lost. The UDC once faced similar circumstances in 2019 when Botswana Movement for Democracy joined the coalition. He also is confident that UDC leader, Duma Boko will pave the way forward since a lot of people listen to him. Rambwawasvika explained that not all is bad within the coalition and urged people not to use this to fully discredit the movement.