22 Jul 2014

South African Communist Party (SACP) Provincial secretary for North West Province has called on members of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) to remain united and guided by the principles of the party as they mobilise Batswana towards the elections.

Speaking during UDC conference in Serowe over the holidays, Mr Madoda Sambatha said as members of different parties, UDC members should remain confident in both their leadership and their parties.

Mr Sambatha, who was also MEC for Public Works and Roads in the North West Province, advised UDC members that whenever the leadership or organisation takes an organisational binding commitment they should be supported by their members and personality interests should not be allowed to determine the organisational relations.

“On behalf of the South African Communist Party, we commit our organisational support to the Botswana National Front and the Umbrella on the coming elections, we call on all members of the three political formations within the Umbrella to remain united, mobilise trade unions and the broader society in the support for the Umbrella.”

Mr Sambatha cautioned UDC members that as they start campaigning they must be alive to the  reality that contesting against a ruling party had never been easy at any given epoch and that challenges of resources and media exposure were some of the challenges the umbrella parties would face.

Only the support of the people of Botswana, he said would deliver a success for the Umbrella.

“Whilst fighting and contesting elections, unity will be paramount and that members of your different organisations should never be tempted to be too personal on any matters pertaining to the Umbrella.”

Mr Sambatha said his party believes the Umbrella had a chance to contest elections and become the ruling party in Botswana.

He stressed that SACP remain a revolutionary ally with BNF and their relationship was based on their strategic objectives on the basis of the kind of democracy they were convinced would work for their countries, region, continent and the world.

“Our alliance relations differ from one country to country, in some countries we are allies of the ruling Parties but here in Botswana we have fraternal relations with BNF which is an opposition to the ruling Party, and we now are delivering this message to the Umbrella because BNF our ally is part of the Umbrella.”

For his part UDC leader, Mr Duma Boko said the reassuring simplicity of their manifesto had reignited the enthusiasm of the people of Botswana.

“Our five pillars capture something of a pervasive aspiration, a felt hope for every citizen and inhabitant of our country.” Mr Boko said UDC manifesto had sparked and ignited interest in places and spaces that would otherwise have remained forgotten.

“It does not only chronicle the accumulated calamities of Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) misrule, but offer a rich repertory of policies and programmes for the upliftment of all.”

Botswana Federation of Public Sector Unions (BOFEPUSO) labour secretary, Mr Johnson Motswarakgole, emphasised the importance of unity among opposition parties towards the October elections.

Mr Motshwarakagole was however saddened by the withdrawal of Botswana Congress Party from opposition cooperation.

Mr Simon Kgaoganang of Botswana Manual Workers said it was their duty as labour unions to advice leaders and so far UDC was on the right track.

“We are here to scrutinise if you are still holding on to the ideas of opposition cooperation and if that is still the case you have our support,” he said. ENDS