Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) acted swiftly to avoid losing investors who were becoming skeptical of working with the coalition following the latest changes in the party.
According to a source from the UDC, a blunder was made by leaking some information before a conclusion was reached in replacing UDC Head of Communications, Moeti Mohwasa.
The source said that following the events leading to Botswana Congress Party’s (BCP) exit from the coalition, investors became hesitant in working with the UDC.
He said the last straw that broke the camel’s back was when the Botswana National Front made another change to the UDC.
“They saw the move to continue working with the UDC as no longer viable and UDC President Duma Boko acted very fast. He had to act because investors were leaving. However, another move that the UDC made was to create an impression that the people were leaving BCP for UDC. Those people have long resigned.”
The source added that the other thing that redeemed the UDC was the coming on board of Alliance for Progressives (AP) and Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF). “The numbers of parties in the coalition are increasing,” he said.
However, Mohwasa has since defended the move saying he was never removed from his position. “First of all let me start off by saying that I have never been removed as UDC Head of Communications. The BNF publicity secretary, Justin Hunyepa has clearly communicated the outcomes of the party’s central committee meeting and I would not like to say much on the allegations. He is the party spokesperson and as procedure would dictate, I cannot comment publicly on BNF matters. It is not my area.”
Mohwasa said that the UDC is an independent organisation that is run on the basis of well grounded principles. “We are aware that there are some who want to create an impression that we are purchasable and can be dictated to by funders,” he said further noting that they do not have major funders. “Those who assist us don’t dictate terms to us and therefore it would be wrong to suggest that they determine deployment of cadres in our movement. The fact of the matter is that I am dispensable. I can be redeployed through proper processes. No one is bigger than the UDC. Powerful faces have either left or got expelled but the project has sustained itself because it belongs to the people.”