We can’t work with unbelievers – Saleshando
Mompati Tlhankane | Monday May 30, 2022 09:36
Speaking at BCP’s Bobirwa victory celebration last weekend in Bobirwa Saleshando quoted a Bible verse, 2 Corinthians 6:14.
“Do not be yoked together with those who do not believe. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?” reads the verse.
Saleshando was quick to indicate that as the BCP they cannot work with unbelievers.
“O seka wa tshwaraganela jokwe le ba ba sa dumeleng,” he said. Saleshando added people should ask how the BCP managed to win the constituency that eluded them for so long.
He said that amongst their main beliefs is that there should be democracy everywhere and elections should be held. Saleshando and BCP had long been pushing for an inaugural UDC congress, a move insiders say BNF and UDC president, Duma Boko do not entertain in fear of losing his grip on the ‘people’s project’.
“In BCP whenever you see me you should ask me who had voted for me to become the president and when. If you see me scratching my head unsure about it, you should know that I am no longer a believer,” he said.
UDC on the other side has always denied stalling the congress and has instead disclosed that all the three parties in the coalition, which include Botswana People’s Party (BPP), agreed to halt the congress until negotiations with other political parties are over.
Saleshando said people should not be surprised to see them work with the Alliance for Progressives (AP) because they have yoked together.
“When we listen to what AP have to say we realise that what they believe in is aligned to ours,” he added.
While they remain in the UDC despite all that has happened recently, BCP has not dismissed the possibility of formation of another coalition with AP. BCP says what happened between the BCP and the AP at Bophirima was spontaneous.
“It came about naturally, thanks to our shared commitment to constitutionalism, democracy, a clean, ethical, and competent government, and our common aversion for dictatorship and unilateralism. That said, what ultimately happens between the BCP and AP will depend on our respective national conferences,” BCP spokesperson, Mpho Pheko told this publication after losing the Bophirima ward by-election.
In addition, Saleshando quoted another Bible verse, Deuteronomy 22:10 which reads: “Do not plough with an ox and a donkey yoked together.” He said if one finds themselves in that situation they should find a way out.
Saleshando says one should find compatible partners and be “yoked together”. Whether he was referring to their sour relationship with the BNF is up to interpretation but for a long time, BCP has been hesitant to call it quits in the UDC.