UDC obliterates BMD
Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) leadership is this week expected to conclude deliberations on re-allocation of Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) constituencies. BMD was expelled from the UDC last year. Its constituencies are now to be redistributed among the remaining UDC contracting partners being Botswana Congress Party (BCP), Botswana National Front (BNF) and Botswana People’s Party (BPP). The UDC National Executive Committee (NEC) which met last week could not conclude the matter. The meeting was adjourned for this week for finalisation of the matter. UDC Head of Communications Moeti Mohwasa confirmed the development. “The NEC could not conclude the matter because there were some outstanding issues that needed to be ratified. The committee that was tasked with looking at the issue had a matter that the NEC wanted clarity on. “So, we have to request them to go back and ratify and give clarity on the matter and report back. So, we will be reconvening the meeting to finalise the redistribution of BMD-held constituencies and wards,” said Mohwasa. UDC had given BMD incumbent councillors and Members of Parliament or members that have been confirmed as BMD candidates for 2019 general elections prior to the expulsion of the party, a chance to cross to one of the UDC contracting partners so that they could contest under the UDC ticket. UDC leader Advocate Duma Boko had publicly made it clear that such candidates would be protected and would not have to go through primary elections should they join either BCP, BNF or BPP. The candidates were given until the end of February to have joined these parties failing which their affected constituencies and wards would be redistributed. Some BMD members have since joined other parties within the UDC. This has been seen as a game changer as UDC contracting partners were eyeing some of the constituencies. The redistribution of BMD constituencies has at some point pitted the contracting partners against each other as they lay claim on the various constituencies. At one-point BCP and BNF fought publicly over Gaborone Central Constituency as they both laid claim to the constituency. BCP also clashed with BPP over Francistown West Constituency which BMD had given to BPP but now BCP wants it back to its fold.