Fireworks are expected this weekend as Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) National Executive Committee (NEC) meet in Palapye following the last month’s meeting, which took place without the Botswana Congress Party.
Addressing a Press Conference on Wednesday, BCP President, and Dumelang Saleshando confirmed their attendance at the Saturday meeting.
“We need all hands on deck and we are part and parcel of the problems and success within the Umbrella,” said Saleshando.
Commenting on the problems that have been bedeviling the UDC of late Saleshando said, “We have problems at the UDC that need to be solved. In 2018 at Boipuso Hall, there was an agreement to hold a UDC elective congress post 2019 elections but there has been nothing,” he remarked acknowledging that the party was troubled.
Saleshando went further and revealed that him and the UDC president Duma Boko have not spoken this year. “I have not spoken or called by Boko this year.”
Saleshando then noted that BCP is committed to democracy and that the party has always made sure that they hold a congress when it is time to do so.
“The BCP Central Committee does meet once or twice a month and it should be the case with the UDC because a year can’t go by without NEC meeting.”
The Member of Parliament for Maun West further said that the UDC constitution does not state whom the coalition presidency belongs to.
However, when asked about the remarks made by the UDC Vice President, the UDC Head of Communications, Moeti Mohwasa said, “We have of late been made to respond to views which do not represent the popular view or position of the UDC. It would not be proper to respond to an affiliate who has four seats in the NEC and is allowed to participate like any other member therein. We believe that if there are issues to be ventilated, the media is not the right platform unless we have ceased to care about the image and integrity of the movement.”