AP talks pullot 'divides' party
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday April 24, 2023 06:00
AP has been in talks with the two parties for possible cooperation for the impending 2024 General Election.
Of recent, some leaders, including the former Member of Parliament (MP) for Mogoditshane Sedirwa Kgoroba and publicity secretary Mmaotho Segotso angrily quit the party as a result of its position on the talks.
Developments in the AP have since led to a situation in which some members even openly criticise the party leadership on social media. Following the turn of events, Kgoroba denied resigning from the AP as speculated in some quarters: ' I have not resigned from the AP, but had a private conversation with Ndaba that if they are moving or joining the UDC, I will resign.
The letter which is said to be circulating is not mine rather it is a way they want to expel me from the party. They know I will object to the move.' According to a source within the party, the move to join the UDC might cause other members to resign while some will stick with the decision taken by the party leadership. “Not all do accept the move because some are still stuck in the past on what caused them to form a new party. It is difficult for them to forgive the UDC leadership hence, they prefer the BCP.
Again, I foresee some losing interest in politics or going back to the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP). Others are frustrated and confused. The majority will follow the leadership. One of the frustrating issues is that there is no congress or conference. As members we do not know if the party leadership will consider so that other issues are discussed,” the source said.
The source further said the problem is that the members had left this issue to the leadership for it to make a resolution on it without them making an input. Additionally, the source revealed that the leaders should have found a way to inform the membership if there were issues that were making them uncomfortable to continue with negotiations. The source said all along they have been thinking that things are going on well at the talks until they got the shock of their lives. Meanwhile, a political analyst Kealeboga Dipogiso commenting on the developments said: “The relationship between the AP and the BCP has been marred by controversy just from the beginning.
The problem within the AP is that there is no consultation between party leadership and its members. That on its own leaves members confused and disgruntled. If there was proper consultation, members could be aware of some of the issues. The BCP’s failure to pull out from the UDC also contributes to another party's failure to trust them. It is clear that the BCP wants to make a move from the UDC at its own time when it wants, but that is where they make a mistake. People don’t trust the BCP because they do think that it is failing to make decisions.” He said the BCP also owes it to people to explain to them why it is still a member of the UDC while at the same time, it is negotiating and cooperating with other parties. AP secretary-general Phenyo Butale explained that at their congress last year, members mandated the party central committee to go and look for opposition parties that they could work with amicably. 'As the party leadership, we are doing exactly what we were asked to do. As for talks, the party presidents are meeting and we will take it from there. I don’t discuss negotiation talks with the media as per the parties' agreement. Whatever is shared with the media must be signed by all three parties,” said Butale.
He, however, said the party central committee has agreed that members should be informed about the latest developments at the policy forum to be held this year. Butale said the decisions made by the party leadership are always in the best interest of party members and they would understand the reasons behind every decision that the party will reach. The BCP spokesperson, Mpho Pheko expressed her disappointment with the latest developments and expressed hope that ongoing attempts to save the talks will result in AP reversing its decision to pull out. 'We would like to place it on record that the BCP went into these negotiations in good faith, with a laser focus on the objectives of the cooperation project and utmost faithfulness to the agreed process, principles and decision-making criteria,” said Pheko. She also said the BCP is currently consulting different layers of its leadership and promises to revert after the consultations.