AP, BNF clash over councillors' nominations
Hardly two weeks after President Advocate Duma Boko dismissed reports that all is not well within his new administration, fresh information suggest to the contrary.
The tension between contracting partners, Alliance for Progressives (AP) and Botswana National Front (BNF) has taken another twist. This time around there are fighting over the nomination of specially elected councillors.
AP has caused the halting of nomination of councillors on grounds that some of the people who have been nominated do not deserve to be nominated.
According to insiders, Acting President Ndaba Gaolathe called a cabinet meeting on Wednesday this week where an instruction was made that all those who received their letters of nomination be informed that a decision has been made for the halting of the nominations and therefore they have to return the letters of appointment issued to them.
According to leaked conversation among Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) Members of Parliament WhatsApp Group, the AP MPs are not happy about the nominations. They argue that some of the people nominated are new members who just decamped from other parties to join UDC post October 30th 2024 general election.
The BNF members have however criticised the AP for being ‘big headed’ and wanting to control government. Insiders within the BNF have argued that the AP as a newcomer into the coalition fold should not be allowed to do as they please.
However, AP MPs in the WhatsApp conversation argued that they have fought for the rebirth of the new government. “Imagine fighting with people decampaigning me openly and the next thing they are pushed into my throat,” said one MP.
Another AP MP stated “Why are these names published and finalised before are approved by cabinet. How can one individual decide alone. This can't be right.”
Other UDC MPs also expressed concern arguing that if this is how the party will run government they will not go far. The MPs are of the view that this injustice should not be tolerated in the new Botswana. The MPs also expressed worry that there are nominations made for people in constituencies that they do not belong to or areas they have not been to before.
Efforts to speak to Gaolathe were futile at press time as his mobile phone was not going through.
The differences between the AP and the BNF over the running of government started during the appointment of cabinet members. BNF was not happy that the AP was getting some of the key ministries they believed should have been taken by the BNF. The AP has maintained that if the BNF wants to work well with them, they have to do away with the big brother mentality.
President Adv Boko has quashed media reports that there are tensions within the coalition and government. He has told the nation that all that is contained in media reports is fictitious. He indicated that he is running an inclusive government and everything is on-cause.