No date set for UDC's unity retreat
Chakalisa Dube | Tuesday November 23, 2021 13:36
The retreat was supposed to be held during the first week of August but was postponed indefinitely owing to COVID-19 restrictions. This week the coalition's spokesperson Moeti Mohwasa told Mmegi that the party is yet to come up with a suitable date for the retreat.
“We are now focussing on the by-elections. That is why we are yet to schedule a date for the retreat,” Mohwasa said. The UDC will contest or support other opposition parties outside the coalition in 11 council by-elections.
Asked if it will be attainable to schedule the unity retreat this year owing to the coalition’s packed agenda and looking at the fact that the year is about to come to an end, Mohwasa said, “That is yet to be decided'.
The decision to hold a party retreat was reached at a UDC national executive committee (NEC) meeting in Palapye last July, as a strategy to allow both parties to cool off and boost the spirit of connectedness amongst them. The recommendation was made following months of tension amongst the parties in the coalition.
In particular, the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) accused other UDC partners of not adhering to proper governance protocols when running affairs of the coalition. On the other hand, other UDC parties accused the BCP of deliberately snubbing key coalition activities for political expediency.
However, since the July UDC NEC meeting, parties in the coalition have appeared more united. Last month, UDC president, Duma Boko together with the coalition vice president and president of the BCP, Dumelang Saleshando went on a weekend retreat in Maun and the Okavango Delta, a development which many said further highlighted tensions easing in the UDC.