The BPF is an affiliate of the UDC, an opposition coalition. Those who are calling for the intervention of the UDC in BPF matters use the Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) 2017 conflicts as a reference point or potent reminder to the coalition leadership that failure to mediate timely can be costly.
There is an opinion that had the UDC timely intervened during the BMD internal conflicts, the party would not have experienced a split, a development that ultimately led to the formation of the Alliance for Progressives (AP).
The BMD has endured a spectacular downfall since 2017 after Sidney Pilane and his supporters were accused of manoeuvring through the rule books to gain total control of the party at the infamous bloody Bobonong congress. After the Bobonong congress, the UDC expelled the BMD, a move that was seen as a strategy to protect the image of the coalition.
Tension in the BPF is escalating as warring factions continue to fight for the control of the party. There have been amplified calls for the UDC to intervene so that tension in the BPF does not end up negating the gains that have already been made in coalition. The calls are premised on the fact that the country is nearing national elections year and the continued infighting in the BPF has the potential to negatively affect the UDC’s preparations for the elections. However, yesterday the UDC spokesperson Moeti Mohwasa maintained that the UDC leadership believes that it is not necessary to intervene in the BPF internal matters. “We are aware of the challenges that the BPF is going through.
Our belief is that they will overcome their challenges,” Mohwasa said. He added: “As we have outlined before, the UDC only gets involved in internal affairs of its affiliates and associates by invitation. We have no doubt that the leadership of the BPF will handle its challenges and knows when to seek external help. We therefore have not thought of any form of intervention until invited to do so. The BPF is led by seasoned politicians who are able to make sensible judgements and decisions to the best interest of their party and the UDC.” Mohwasa does not entirely agree with the notion that the challenges in the BPF might spill into the UDC and ultimately tarnish its image or impact negatively on the preparations for the general elections. The infighting in the BPF has also previously limited the party’s participation in some UDC activities.
“The BPF is not the first UDC affiliate to undergo challenges. We have had other affiliates face leadership challenges and they were able to address them without our involvement. The UDC is more than just the sum total of its affiliates. It is a change movement,” he said. The UDC spokesperson added that the coalition leadership has not even engaged the BPF to put its house in order although it is evident that things are not going well. “Like we have said, for now we believe the BPF is able to sort out its issues without our involvement,” he said.
Since the 2019 General Election, the BPF has not been proactive on fighting matters facing voters today, from unemployment concerns to economic anxieties. More energy has been channelled to factional battles in the party. One faction is led by incumbent President Biggie Butale while the other is led by BPF Patron and former President Ian Khama, both fighting to gain control of the party. Butale was this week suspended by the Khama faction but has said that he will not recognise the suspension and he has also threatened to go to court. His suspension was not expected because it was widely speculated that both factions are exploring reconciliation.
The BPF spokesperson, Lawrence Ookeditse, downplayed the significance of the recent suspension of the party president. “Actually, we are now getting to the end of any infighting. This is not the beginning but the ending. We have forced for those that have differences to talk and this will lead to an end of the conflict. Also, if a leader refuses to talk to others for a whole three or four months when there are problems, it leads to continuation of the conflict perpetually. Where we are now, there will be an ending to the disagreements," he said.
