UDC AGAINST UDC
The fight between Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) candidates for Mmopane-Metsimotlhabe, Helen Pushie Manyeneng and Olebogeng Gilbert Watshipi, seems to have no end as the party's manifesto launch and general elections approach.
Both UDC politicians are adamant that they are the rightful candidates for the party. Watshipi is adamant that he is still the UDC candidate for the constituency, as he is yet to receive any message from the party president barring him from standing for elections under the UDC banner.
He stated that the circulating list of UDC candidates which is signed by UDC Vice President Ndaba Gaolathe is null and void as it is not signed by the President of the UDC, Duma Boko.
Watshipi said that the Chairperson of the UDC, Motlatsi Molapisi tried to unify the duo but Manyeneng and her team refused to go to the meeting. He said they also rejected a taskforce that was appointed by the UDC NEC.
Watshipi said that the Alliance for Progressives (AP) rejected a taskforce, primary elections in Mmopane and rejected to meet with the Chairperson of the UDC and he wonders how the situation can be helped.
He said that he went to the UDC Chairperson and is waiting for a letter from him on the matter, adding that he would respect any outcome the party takes.
Moreover, Watshipi says in the event that the letter does not favour him, he will consult the people on what steps to take.
“I have always advocated for the truth, democracy and transparency,” Watshipi said, adding that no one has come forward yet and convinced him about why Manyeneng should represent the UDC in the constituency even though in 2019 in Phakalane only 900 voted for her whilst he had over 5000 votes.
Watshipi said that even the people of the constituency find it hard to accept Manyeneng, citing that the BNF leadership in the constituency petitioned the UDC with a signed document that had over 2500 signatures.
He said that he went back to the BNF members and he thought he should focus on business and make room for Manyeneng but the BNF people in the constituency refused as they have been working hard since 2019 to secure
the constituency.
Furthermore, Watshipi said that people should vote for him because he will advocate for an increase of pension for elderly people, job creation for the youth and other developments that are needed in the area.
Manyeneng, on the other hand said that talks have taken place in the coalition and constituencies have been allocated with AP getting 12 constituencies. She explained that women parliamentary candidates in the UDC are very low and she has been one of the few chosen to represent the party.
“We are not going to be derailed by some rebels,” Manyeneng said, adding that they are going all out on their campaign and that the lack of tolerance from the opposing team within the UDC will not stop their aim of winning the constituency. She said her team has explained to voters about the issue and they urge people to ignore Watshipi as he is in the wrong.
Manyeneng added that Watshipi should have run for elections at Lentsweletau, where BNF was given permission to field candidates under the UDC. She said that despite the fact that there are a few people causing confusion, the UDC manifesto launch will go on as planned.
She revealed that at one point when the issue of allocations was still fresh, she and Watshipi were together in a meeting of the UDC structures, where both sides had to present their cases before the structure. She said that Watshipi had no valid reason as to why she should yield for him.
“Watshipi even gave as his reason, the fact that he was in debt with his things being taken by the banks as he was part of the people that petitioned the 2019 elections,” Manyneng said, adding that this shows that it is about himself and not the people but that she on the other hand wants to represent the people for the sake of the people and not to recoup the money spent on petitions.
She said that the constituency has been allocated to AP and if something happens to her, another member of AP will take her place. She said that Watshipi is failing his own party and he will implode on his own, and they will not take the constituency from them as the leadership of the AP will not allow that.