Francistown West Member of Parliament (MP), Ignatius Moswaane has expressed frustration and disappointment with the leadership of Botswana Congress Party (BCP), which bolted out of the coalition Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) following a fall out. Moswaane was addressing a rally organised by the Botswana People's Party (BPP) in Tati Siding over the weekend, and took to the moment to say the BCP leadership was behaving like children.
"They are petty,” Moswaane said about the fallout between the UDC and the BCP, which was followed by complaints of a democracy deficit in the UDC by the BCP.
Despite his not so flattering words he used at the rally to describe the leaders of the BCP, Moswaane said that the UDC was still looking forward to receiving the BCP back into the coalition, insinuating that the BCP reasons for going solo were just an excuse. Regarding complaints by the BCP that the UDC has got no regard for democracy because it has failed to hold an elective congress, Moswaane explained:
“Coalitions do not hold elective congresses. On the contrary, concerning our situation, it is the respective coalition partners such as the AP, the BNF and BPF which hold elective congresses. The BCP should stop falsely accusing the UDC president, Duma Boko of refusing to call an elective congress,” the MP said as he appealed to the electorate to ignore the BCP’s accusations against Boko and the UDC.
He took further time to discuss the impending elections, both at primary and national level, cautioning potential candidates against egocentrism and not working for the greater good of the party. He called upon the council and parliamentary candidates to win all the wards and constituencies allocated to them, adding that no candidate should be imposed on the electorate. "In a democracy, candidates must not be imposed on the people. On the contrary, they must come from the people themselves. Anybody is free to contest the elections without hindrances from anyone.
Any such hindrances should be reported to the party leadership forthwith. Just like the general elections, only one person wins the primaries. After losing, do not defect. Wait for your chance. In the first place, to stand a chance of winning, make sure you have a large followership of members,” the MP advised.
At the same rally, the BPP president Motlatsi Molapisi warned that the party will not hesitate to crack the whip on potential offenders of primary election regulations.
“I can tell you that the party will not allow troublemakers to put the integrity of our primary elections, as well as compromise our internal party stability and the integrity of our primary election process.
“We will take swift action against the offenders. If you misbehave, you may find yourself serving suspension from the party during the primary election season which situation would not allow you to contest the general elections,” he threatened, emphasising the need for members to always follow party rules and regulations.
Molapisi, who is also the chairman of the UDC, added that it would not be long before the party leadership announces the BPP primary election date.
The BPP, alongside the Alliance for Progressive (AP), the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) and Botswana National Front (BNF) are members of the UDC coalition.
The party leader advised people to join politics to find solutions to the problems bedevilling the nation such as shortage of medication, unemployment and corruption, among other things.
“What are you doing in Botswana Democratic Party because the party has failed to improve your livelihoods? Are you happy with the BDP policies which have relegated you to perpetual poverty? Please note that, it is the BDP government which has made you poor and not God,” Molapisi lectured.
For his part, a BPP veteran, Peter Kuchwe, accused the ruling party of failing to achieve a sustainable economy even though the country is endowed with minerals and other resources.
“As a country, we lack nothing except the brains of those in power. We either vote the BDP out of power and live well or maintain the status quo and lead miserable lives. As the voters, the choice of government is in your hands,” Kuchwe said.
Addressing the same rally, Thomas Mpenya called upon the people of Tati Siding to vote the UDC if they want jobs.
“The BDP has failed to connect water to certain parts of the village,” said Mpenya, who accused the area MP and Minister of Education, Douglas Letsholathebe and his predecessors of failing to bring impactful developmental projects to the village.
