‘We have noticed delinquency, indiscipline in the BCP’ - Pheko
Ryder Gabathuse | Monday June 20, 2022 06:00
There has been hullaballoo in the BCP after the party leadership raised red flags that the leadership of the UDC under president Duma Boko is characterised by unilateralism and disquieting issues of poor governance was not what the doctor had ordered.
The BCP president Dumelang Saleshando is on record having warned that if Boko does not change his leadership style and embrace good governance, then it means “end of the road” for the party he leads.
The position of the party leadership has been a subject of debate within the rank and file of the BCP. For sometime now, peace has been stolen with the party leadership doing a lot of explanation on the developments.
There are particularly some worrying latest developments in which Mahalapye East legislator David Tshere jointly addressed a rally with the UDC leader Boko explaining his circumstances just like some civic leaders in the North West who invited the UDC president to a meeting to share their side of the story without the party leadership embracing such a meet.
Disagreements on how matters should be approached has seemingly sparked ‘delinquents’ within the BCP with some cadres insisting that they stand with Boko at the UDC against suggestions that his leadership style was not the best as adjudged by the BCP leadership.
It is apparent that for the BCP, the situation is now getting out of control unless the leadership moves faster and nips the development in the bud. Speaking to the BCP spokesperson Mpho Pheko this week, she indicated that as a party, they have taken notice of delinquency, indiscipline and lack of control by some of the party members.
She accepted that delinquency has always existed and will continue to exist.
“We are a party of due processes and we don’t just ignore issues. As part of addressing this development, we have started off with proper counselling and disciplinary action will come as a last resort,” explained Pheko in an interview this week.
She was adamant that the BCP leadership has not lost control at all.
“We aren’t reactionaries, but we are decisive. It should be noted that we are a party of the masses and just as we go to our party conference, we will ensure our people are appropriately informed so that whatever decision they will come up with, will be from an informed position,” she told Mmegi. Pheko also told Mmegi that her party does not have any resolution on specifically working with the UDC, but, “working with like-minded progressive forces and at the time we had identified the UDC and now we are in the UDC.”
The BCP finds it prudent for the party to work with like-minded progressive forces like trade unions, the media and the civil society amongst others. She said within the UDC, the BCP is willing to work with coalition partners of the BNF and the Botswana Peoples Party (BPP), provided issues of good governance are attended to. She highlighted issues like activating the UDC constitution.