UDC, AP ‘unity talks’ on the pause

The dreams of the Umbrella Democratic for Change (UDC) to have all opposition parties contesting under its banner for this year General Elections seems far-fetched at this stage  – based on how the events are currently unfolding.

The Alliance for Progressives (AP), the most admired possible working partner by the UDC, has since made it clear that they will only be open to work with the UDC if the Duma Boko-led coalition can meet certain conditions.

The UDC has failed to meet one of its key demands – to have responded to their letter by February 28.

AP Secretary General Dr Phenyo Butale confirmed that the UDC has not met their deadline and did not even acknowledge having received their letter.

Butale said UDC’s failure to meet the deadline is not going hurt AP’s preparations for the General Elections, noting that they expect the party to respond soon.

He said the UDC on other hand is pushing their agenda to the extent of recruiting members such as Haskins Nkaigwa, who has since rejoined the UDC. Pius Mokgware has reportedly been one of the AP members who have been under the UDC radar.

When quizzed on whether they will accept UDC response after the set deadline, Butale said the decision will fall on the party’s Central Committee.

AP vice president Wynter Mmolotsi recently told the media that they had only given UDC up to the end of February, adding that if UDC fails to meet the deadline, they (AP) will not delay their progress saying they have given their counterparts enough time to bring in feedback.

AP Party president Ndaba Gaolatlhe also said they are keen to kick start their national campaigns and had expected to hear from their counterparts on the progress towards the working cooperation.

He said although they are not ruling out the value of working with UDC in the elections, AP can still do it alone.

UDC spokesperson Moeti Mohwasa they could not meet the deadline because it came before the UDC National Executive Committee met.

He said the NEC met this week on Tuesday and the party president Duma Boko has been assigned to write to AP which will always detail the delay behind the missed deadline.

The UDC has promised to make an announcement on the new developments towards the unity talks with the AP. At the time of going to print that had not been done.