UDC, BCP place other parties at disadvantage – Morwaeng
Spira Tlhankane | Monday July 8, 2024 06:00
In 2019 when the conference was last held, the BCP was still part of the UDC that currently includes Botswana National Front (BNF), Alliance for Progressives (AP), and Botswana People’s Party (BPP). When Morwaeng first convened the first meeting of the conference in February this year, the BCP had already quit the coalition. Speaking yesterday at the All Party Conference, the minister’s assertion was that all the members of the UDC still attend the conference as separate entities despite belonging to one entity being the UDC. “I do have some reservations with the current configuration regarding membership of the All-Party Conference.
The BCP and UDC attend the All Party Conference alongside their individual party members, this therefore, begs the question of who are the two entities representing. If for example, we have to vote for a decision does the BCP and UDC vote representing their membership to the All Party Conference as a coalition or individual party members vote representing themselves?”Morwaeng questioned. He said in the case above the results of the votes will be tilted against those who are represented by a lesser number in the All Party Conference through the multiplier effect which places other parties that are not members of any coalition at a disadvantage. Morwaeng indicated that he was raising the issue so that they reassess the mandate of the All-Party Conference with the view to revise its purpose and relevance for members to take the unevenness of the playing field into consideration.
“I implore us to discuss these issues with open minds to reach an amicable resolution. As a Government representative in this matter, I wish to build a foundation for fairness for those who will come after us and to create a levelled field for political parties,” he said. Morwaeng also apologised to the members of the opposition for failing to convene the second All Party Conference meeting in the month of March as per the agreement in February. The minister said he couldn’t convene the meeting due to other competing assignments in his plate and for that “I humbly ask for your indulgence and understanding”. “As you might be aware there are too many things competing for my attention as the Minister in the Presidency, please rest assured that had it not been for these competing activities in my office I would have convened this meeting as per our agreement. “Nonetheless, receive my unequivocal apology for the delay in holding this meeting,” he noted.
Morwaeng said an important action item for yesterday’s meeting was for members to make proposals on the modalities of operationalising the political funding from Government. With about three months left before the general election political parties are yet to share the P34.6 million availed for political party funding. The Molepolole South legislator emphasised that the delay in hosting the meeting was not all in vain because they took the opportunity to do the spade work of developing modalities for the political funding as government.