Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) President, Duma Boko has dismissed allegations that there was disunity amongst the coalition especially between him and his Vice, Dumelang Saleshando.
Speaking at the signing of Memorandum of Understanding between, UDC, and Alliance for Progressives and Botswana Patriotic Front on Wednesday, Boko said that as they start a new journey they would be challenges.
He told his colleagues, who will be called, the Opposition Cooperation Forum that as leaders, they should expect challenges but most importantly they should know how to face and resolve those challenges.
“We will not be leaders if we don’t come across challenges,” he said and went on to cite 2014 general elections when he differed a lot with Saleshando because they had turfs to defend as an example of such challenges.
He explained however that although from outside they differed and looked like they were attacking each other, they were not.
“The journey that we are taking today will be a tough one as we will differ in terms of ideas but we will engage and reconcile for a single objective, which is to remove the BDP from power,” he said adding that the current situation calls for them to work together towards a single objective of a stunning victory in 2024.
Meanwhile, Saleshando has defended his party, Botswana Congress Party (BCP) for holding virtual rallies under the BCP brand instead of UDC.
In an exclusive interview with this publication, he said all UDC member parties were currently working on energising and expanding their support base.
“Our collective growth is paramount for the future of the UDC and with the increasing levels of interest, number of rallies will be increased in the future,” revealed Saleshando.
He mentioned that that under the State of Public Emergency, rallies as they have previously conducted them are not permitted hence the decision taken to adapt to the new normal.
Some UDC members especially from the Botswana National Front have been questioning the BCP’s motive of holding own events.
