Crunch time: Saleshando, Gaolathe meet
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday May 1, 2023 06:00
The BCP is reportedly taking a position that it is not putting anything on the table as the conveners Lebang Mpotokwane and Emang Maphanyane try to get the BCP president Dumelang Saleshando and Ndaba Gaolathe to talk this Friday.
Now the lime machine feels that Saleshando should not bring a proposal when his party believes in the new coalition called New Botswana. Recently when the AP abandoned the talks, the BCP felt it had nothing to say except to listen as the AP pulled out.
The issues of trust and integrity still remain questionable. Some members of the BCP central committee (CC) are allegedly worried about working with people (AP) who could dump them anytime they feel like doing so.
The BCP members believe that the AP might come back simply because they are under pressure from their members. In addition, Gaolathe is also set to face a mammoth task as he seeks to change the position of the AP Central Committee. The BCP spokesperson, Dr Mpho Pheko confirmed that it is true the meeting will be today. “As the BCP we don’t have much to say.
We will hear from the AP and what conveners may suggest. Our president will brief the executive committee and central committee after the meeting. We will take it from there and inform the public,” she said briefly. Contacted for comment about today’s meeting, the AP secretary-general, Dr Phenyo Butale said they do not discuss party internal matters with the press. “It is true that presidents have been meeting with conveners. We will hear what the conveners are saying. The members will be informed at the policy forum conference that will be held this year,” he said.
He also said they are not going to predict what the conveners or presidents would agree or disagree with. Still on the matter, political analyst Mokaloba Mokaloba said it is usually difficult for presidents to change the position taken by the CC unless one has the support of party members. “These talks have been ongoing for the longest of time and any day that passes is a lost day and lost hope for any fruitful results out of them. Now it seems hope lies with leaders of the two parties but honestly, it seems more or less like all is lost for this coalition. It will also become interesting to see if they will trust each other in case they resolve to work together again in a short space,” Mokaloba added.
This issue came after the AP informed other members of new affiliates, the BCP and the Botswana Labour Party (BLP) that it is withdrawing from the new coalition. A signed Memorandum of Agreement by the three parties dated April 17, 2023, the AP, the BCP and the BLP by their secretary-generals Kgakgamatso Kebiditswe (BLP), Pheko (BCP) and Butale (AP) reads: “Despite the AP’s decision to withdraw, the meeting resolved to urgently invite the three presidents to the negotiation table with the view to explore ways of getting the AP to review that decision.” This is despite the BCP having sacrificed its stronghold constituencies for the sake of the frail relation with the AP.
The two constituencies that the BCP is willing to give away include Mogoditshane and Gaborone Central. The AP, the BLP and the BCP wanted to form a coalition to contest the upcoming 2024 General Election. However, the impasse in some of the constituencies was between the AP and the BCP. Recently the BCP revealed it was disappointed with the latest developments but expressed hope that ongoing attempts to save the talks will result in the AP reversing its decision to withdraw.
The BCP clarified that they 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.