The Botswana National Front (BNF) would like to respond to allegations in the 09 November 2022 Botswana Gazette newspaper by the BCP-AP formation that claims to be waiting for the BNF to join it. The BNF is a member of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) together with the Botswana Congress Party, Botswana Peoples Party and Botswana Patriotic Front. The UDC, save for the repeated transgressions by the BCP, is stable and ready for genuine regime change in 2024. The public confidence in the UDC is high as the results from the recent bye elections at Bophirima and Moselewapula confirm.
The BNF was founded on the principle of opposition unity. This has made us not to be inclined to misguided, dishonest and emotional outbursts.
If the BCP is as principled as it alleges, it would be respecting the UDC constitution that forbids affiliates from entering into talks with another political formation outside the UDC. The BCP MPs and Councillors would by now have resigned their positions if they see themselves as not being part of the UDC. This is a serious red flag and a clear indication of the dishonest and opportunistic nature and character of the party. We call upon the BCP to remain in the people’s project and for the AP to join the UDC and stop frolicking. We will not take pride in seeing the BCP and AP decimated and remaining in the opposition while the people’s project takes charge in 2024.
We would like to further clarify that the Botswana Labour Party (BLP) is not a new party that just broke away from the BNF. It has always been there since 1989, having been formed by Lenyeletse Koma. The few that have just joined it are not different from those who have joined the BDP from other parties. We respect their decision to join the BLP and wish them well in their latest political expedition. The only word of advise to them is that they should respect internal processes at their new home.
Justin Hunyepa BNF Information & Publicity Secretary