BCP, BDP are ideologically incompatible - Dr Pheko

Botswana Congress Party (BCP) has refuted suggestions that it is considering forming a coalition with another opposition party - Botswana Democratic Party (BDP).This is not the first time a bromance between the BDP and the BCP made it to the news. The possible relationship has in the past been suggested even when the BDP was in power.The BCP, a former contracting partner in the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), was once accused by its partners of working with the BDP under the cover of darkness to ensure the BDP continues to rule.The accusations were made both during the 2014 and the 2019 general elections. The BCP has however maintained that all this is just propaganda aimed at tarnishing its image. The BCP is currently the main opposition party in Parliament, while the BDP is a minority.BCP Publicity and Information Secretary, Professor Mpho Pheko stated this week that the claims of a possible coalition or a working relationship with the BDP are far-fetched.“We would like to categorically state that the BCP leadership has no mandate to enter into any relationship with BDP, no discussions of that nature have been entered into, and none have been, or are considered,” Prof Pheko said.She indicated that the BCP and the BDP are poles apart in ideological dispositions and have no common economic development framework.Dr Pheko explained that these reports are untruthful, rascally malicious and can be categorised as works of agents of disinformation and deceit, intended to malign and discredit the BCP, cause confusion, and divert attention from failures to deliver on election promises.“In line with the mandate given to the Party by the 2024 voters, the BCP remains laser-focused on holding the government of the day accountable.“We are also reinvigorating our structures to ready the Party for the 2029 general election,” she said.The BDP has prior to the 2024 general election ruled out any possibility of forming coalition with other political parties and being part of a unity government. Following its devastating loss in the October polls, the BDP indicated that it could not rule out a possible coalition with other opposition parties.Mid last year a report by Geopolitical Intelligence Services (GIS) suggested that the BDP is likely to govern through a coalition agreement.GIS provides analysis and insights on global political, economic, and security developments and in February last year accurately predicted the formation of South Africa’s current coalition government.It noted that the BDP faces challenges that are comparable to what the ANC was up against in South Africa in the period leading to elections.

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BCP, BDP are ideologically incompatible - Dr Pheko