We don’t have funding for elections – UDC
Spira Tlhankane | Tuesday May 21, 2024 08:43
Madibela Tlhopho leader, Michael Keakopa told the media on Friday that the coalition doesn’t have the same access to funding compared to the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP).
The UDC is made up of made up of the Botswana National Front (BNF), Botswana People’s Party (BPP) and Alliance for Progressives (AP) Madibela Tlhopho is an official UDC group formed to perform the role of protecting the electoral system. Keakopa, who was addressing the media about the voters roll amongst others, alleged that the BDP has access to unlimited funding because the latter awards tenders to companies. “We don’t have access to resources and we wouldn’t be worried about funding if we had the means to invite these rich individuals to our fundraising events and sell golf balls worth P350,000,” he said.
The BDP recently held a golf day where it auctioned off President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s signed ball for P350,000 as part of fundraising efforts for the upcoming general election slated for October. Keakopa said there is private political funding in Botswana but the opposition doesn’t benefit from that. He further alleged that there too much corruption when it comes to donors in politics, it's no wonder no one is willing to come to their aid. UDC’s financier in the 2019 General Election was South African businessman, Zunaid Moti and according to Keakopa, this election year the coalition doesn’t have the same financial muscle.
UDC president, Duma Boko previously blamed the BDP and local businesses for putting him in a situation where he had to seek financial assistance from his friend Moti. This was after reports from South African media indicated that Moti had aimed to capture Botswana and was going to rely on the Botswana opposition as a Trojan horse, by backing Boko’s UDC. Dismissing the allegations as nonsensical, Boko said the business people who are doing business in Botswana have been so intimidated, brainwashed and are fearful. He said they would not support opposition parties but would rather fund the ruling party in fear of persecution. Boko added because local businesses don’t want to help the opposition, fundraising becomes an area where one must look for friends. With no funding in sight less than five months before the 2024 General Election, UDC just like other opposition parties would bank their hopes on the P34 million allocated for political party funding.
In March, State President Minister Kabo Morwaeng convened the first All Party Conference in five years, where the main topic on the agenda was political party funding, with parties set to share P34 million. Currently, no established model is guiding the distribution of these funds amongst parties. During the meeting, all parties were vocal about their immediate need for the funds as campaigns intensify. Since then nothing has been decided.