UDC looks to Ndaba 

 The unhappy National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) has backed the party vice president Ndaba Gaolathe to take charge of the election’s preparations amidst the continuous absence of coalition president Duma Boko who continues to miss important UDC activities. The Patriot on Sunday has it on good authority that the coalition central committee has called on Boko to explain himself over his commitment towards UDC collective elections preparations and mobilisation. 

The central committee is said to be disappointed by the continuous absence of Boko at important gatherings such as the candidates manifesto workshop, which was held in Jwaneng. Boko was expected to be present with Ndaba but only Ndaba showed up with some NEC members. 

“Boko is quiet, and his body language isn’t showing any commitment to the project anymore. There is a lot of work that needs to be done and that requires the collective effort of the UDC leadership. He also missed two meetings of NEC and his apologies were not convincing at all,” said impeccable source within the UDC NEC. 

Efforts to contact Boko for a comment proved unsuccessful as he didn’t answer calls to his mobile phones despite several attempts of contacting him at press time. 

Sources intimate that the recent revolt by the UDC partner, Alliance for Progressives (AP) has been linked to Boko’s inactivity in addressing the issues that AP had raised. 

AP has been unhappy about a number of issues such as the failure to conclude wards negotiation and the dissent by some of Botswana National Front (BNF) members who launched parallel campaigns in the constituencies allocated to AP being Moleplole South, Mmopane- Metsimotlhabe and Kgatleng East. 

BNF‘s duo Dr Tlamelo Mmatli and Gilbert Watshipi are said to be campaigning in Molepolole South and Mmopane- Metsimotlhabe respectively – making AP candidates Shima Monageng (Molepolole South) and Pushi Manyaneng at Mmopane-Metsimotlhabe uncomfortable. 

SERIOUS CONCERN 

Political and Administrative lecturer at University of Botswana (UB) Dr Adam Mfundisi has said the UDC Primary Elections and the role of Boko in the 2024 general elections are a cause for concern to many voters as the UDC is a major political player in Botswana politics and by a large extent an alternative government in waiting. 

Dr Mfundisi said the absence of Boko in UDC activities as well as the absence of BPF Patron Ian Khama in UDC politics is likely to negatively impact on the performance of the coalition in this year’s elections. 

“This is in addition to polarisation and partisanship within the UDC compromising the preparedness of the formation with four months left before the polls. The AP supremo Ndaba is an intelligent man but lacks the charisma and charm which both Boko and Khama possess. UDC seems not prepared for the 2024 general elections,” buttressed Dr Mfundisi responding to the UDC dynamics. 

Observers are also of the view that the mother of all campaigns that was pulled by the UDC in 2019 elections will not be repeated in this year’s elections campaign more so that Khama campaigned for both UDC and BPF. 

This time around the BPF has also distanced itself from the UDC. Khama and Boko’s combined campaign charm caused harm to the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), especially in the central district where both UDC and BPF marched to victory ousting Domkrag in its stronghold constituencies such as Serowe, Mahalapye, Palapye, Tswapong and Bobirwa respectively. 

With political party funding on the horizon, it would be seen if the UDC campaign trail would move at a fast pace with Boko expected to launch several UDC parliamentary candidates comprising of BNF, AP and Botswana People’s Party (BPP) candidates. UDC is also expected to launch its Manifesto this month