Amid the rumours which have been doing the rounds that the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) plans to exit the opposition coalition- the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), the BCP President-Dumelang Saleshando, have nullified those remarks.
“The central committee was briefed on efforts to foster closer opposition cooperation in preparation for the 2024 general elections. Vote splitting in the 2019 general elections was still a reality for the opposition. To this end, the central committee resolved that the BCP should fully participate in efforts to unite the opposition and avoid vote splitting in the next general elections. Our commitment to opposition cooperation remains unwavering and we will directly communicate our position to other opposition parties as we embark on the journey to 2024.” Saleshando declared.
The BCP has been accused of planning to get out of the UDC coalition ahead of the 2024 elections and contest as a stand-alone party. It is said that ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) is the culprit behind those rumours in its effort to destabilize the opposition.
The rumours had intensified after the University of Botswana Congress for Democracy (UBCD)- the BCP student wing got kicked out of the Moono Wa Baithuti coalition at the University of Botswana. Though some BNF elders are said to have taken part in the move to elbow UBCD out of the coalition and replace it with UB Progressives- the Alliance for Progressives (AP) student wing, Saleshando says that should not make them lose focus on the bigger picture.
“Though AP is not a member of the UDC, the BNF for reasons best known to them, excluded the BCP in favour of a non-member. Numerous efforts to resolve the misunderstanding proved futile. This development was a clear attack on the UDC and broad opposition cooperation. That some UDC leaders participated in legitimising the actions of some who undermine opposition cooperation is most regrettable. This however, cannot be the basis for quitting the UDC as some may wish to see happen ” Saleshando asserted.
Meanwhile, the party has vowed to continue building its structures and recruiting new members in order to be able to contribute to the UDC.
