Regional congresses prepare for the unity talks
AP wants united opposition for 2024 elections
Current BDP regime is weakest ever- Mmolotsi
BAKANG TIRO
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Vice president of Alliance for Progressives (AP) Wynter Mmolotsi said the party is confident that opposition will emerge victorious in 2024 elections to dethrone ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP).
In an interview on Friday, Mmolotsi who is also the only AP MP for Francistown South said that the party regional congresses are going well as the party is geared for opposition cooperation talks. He noted that AP is committed to work with Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) and Botswana Patriotic Change (BPF) emphasizing that the united opposition stand a chance to defeat the BDP.
“Our regional tours are meant to solicit mandate from our members as we are in opposition talks with other parties. We want our members to give feedback on what AP can submit at unity talks. We are committed to find ways in which we can work with other parties,” said confident Mmolotsi.
According to the outspoken AP legislator, the current BDP regime led by President Mokgweetsi Masisi is the weakest ever in history of the party and he is confident that opposition can oust it. He says that they should take advantage of the BDP poor performance in debates at parliament. “The BDP is on its knees and that why it always want to recruit the members from opposition. There is quality in opposition at parliament when compared to the BDP aisle. I want to see all opposition parties united in 2024. We should no longer compete against each other at the polls if we want to topple BDP,” said Mmolotsi urging opposition members to desist from skirmishes.
AK47 as Mmolotsi is popularly known in the political circles said that the party lost three (3) of its 2019 parliamentary candidates to the BDP but said this is not going to cause panic to the AP.
AP fielded 40 candidates for the 2019 general elections but won only one seat through Mmolotsi while the party’s top brass such as President Ndaba Gaolatlhe and Dr Phenyo Butale suffered the defeats.
He also pointed out that UDC lost two (2) of its seating MPs but said the concern was dealt with when two seating MPs from BDP being Mephato Reatile and Ignatius Moswaane crossed to opposition.
Reatile who is MP for Jwaneng- Mabutsane joined Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) while the MP for Francistown West Moswaane joined the Botswana People Party (BPP), becoming its only MP.
Mmolotsi went on to buttress that there will be rising challenges facing the journey through opposition cooperation talks but said they must be dealt with high cognizance to avoid splits.
Three opposition parties being UDC, BPF and AP entered opposition unity talks ahead of 2024 elections.
The parties last year signed the Memorandum of Understanding to partner on essential aspects.
The spirit and the purpose according to the parties is to ensure electoral gains and victory in the bye-election, with each of contracting parties enjoined in selection of candidates among others.
“Continuing cooperation in the bye-elections will strengthen our commitment to party-to party relationships and working to increase the understanding of Batswana about all social, economic and political problems confronting the country,” said the cooperating parties in the MOU deal.