BNF members demand task force to listen

 

Some Botswana National Front (BNF) members have come out to defend the actions of their candidates that defied the party’s stance and contested for political office even though the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) has not chosen them.

A member of the BNF Constituency Committee who wanted to remain anonymous said that the leadership of the UDC knew that Olebogeng Gilbert Watshipi was the rightful candidate to represent UDC in the Mmopane-Metsimotlhabe constituency in the upcoming election.

The member said that they were shocked that a decision was taken to allocate the parliamentary seat to Alliance for Progressives (AP) even though the BNF has been doing the dirty work on the ground for years.

He explained that the BNF identified Watshipi and began working with him prior to the 2019 elections. It is said that Watshipi has been actively working with the schools by donating books helping out in local dikgotla among

other things whilst Helen Pushie Manyeneng is literally unknown as she does not live in the area.

The source blamed the UDC leadership for being slow to resolve this, which action could eventually prove detrimental for the party.

“We had a petition of over 400 signatures of BNF members from the area sent to the UDC,” the source claimed, adding that they sent this petition before the reports that a task force would be set up.

The source noted that when UDC unveiled Manyeneng as the candidate, people did not come forward to register to vote, but that ever since Watshipi declared his candidacy under the banner of the UDC, a lot of people suddenly rushed to register to vote.

The BNF Committee member in the constituency lamented that even though people are tired of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), this impasse may reduce their chances of being elected in the upcoming elections. He explained that the BNF has a disciplinary structure and if Watshipi is seen to be disloyal, he will be punished.

“The task force will be set up to listen to the people,” the source said, adding that the task force that will be set up has no choice but to listen to what the people want and what they want in their constituency is for Watshipi to represent the UDC. They explained that the AP does not exist in their constituency, therefore it is a straightforward case to have a popular candidate contesting.