COURT ROUTE DIVIDES BMD

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  • BMD candidates demand opposition peace
  • We need a united opposition – Modubule

LETLHOGILE MPUANG

Less than a week after the Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) dragged the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) to court over what they allege was an unconstitutional expulsion from the opposition coalition, it emerges that the decision to take the legal route has brought division amongst BMD members.

In a leaked WhatsApp conversation amongst BMD candidates, prominent members of the party expressed concerns over the deteriorating opposition unity. The candidates warned against selfish motives, and called for the focus to be given on coming together and uniting as opposition parties in the country.

“I am still praying and trusting for unity, together we will and can succeed, and beat and shatter BDP. We must not look only to ourselves, our country needs change and only a united opposition can do it,” reads a message from one the BMD members.

“Baakaulenge let us not lose focus we need change it cannot come under the arrangement ya mongwe le mongwe a iperekela. We have to try knock some sense into our political leaders. Rebabaletswe betsho,” reads one of the responses from BMD Chairman Nehemiah Modubule’s reply.

BMD Member of Parliament Tlamelo Mmatli, who confirmed that he was part of the WhatsApp group, shared the same sentiments with some of the concerned members, and pleaded with the party leadership to find a common ground and reconcile as opposition parties.

I support their position. Opposition has to unite. Batswana demand a united opposition; we will not go anywhere if we continue in this manner. Batswana do not really care about each party’s weaknesses; all they want is that we unite. We wish our leaders can come together and make it happen.

If it happens, I wish we forgive and forget all our pasts, and do this for Batswana, they are the ones demanding opposition unity,” said Mmatli.

Asked about the messages, Modubule reiterated his stance on opposition unity, and remains adamant on opposition peace.

“We have to come together as opposition parties, we need a united opposition. The reason why went to court is because we want to unite opposition in 2019. We need to remain focused and not be derailed by what we read in the papers, all we are seeking for in court is that the decision to expel BMD be nullified,” explains Modubule.

I am still confident that we can still reconcile, even after the court case, I have been in politics for a long time and I have seen it happen . We must come to the table and map our way forward as opposition.”

This publication has been informed that members of the BMD intend to apply pressure on their leadership in their bid to reconcile BMD and UDC outside of court.