Following recent media reports and posts on the social media, the Botswana National Front would like correct and put into proper perspective certain statements which create certain innuendos. It is highly regrettable that what has incited this confusion are “leaks” or a “leak” suggestively coming from the central committee members. The expectation is that all those who are members of the central committee should at all times respect the channels of communication that are provided in the party constitution and refrain from discussing inner party matters with the press or those who are not members of the cc. It becomes even worse when the deliberations so leaked are distorted.
It should be noted that the Botswana National Front (BNF) remains a member of the Umbrella for Democratic (UDC). In the coming Mochudi East bye-election the candidate is from the BNF. So how can we provide a candidate and then bolt out? We were formed primarily to bring all the progressive forces together to fight against neo-colonialism. The BNF still remains committed to this project. At its recent sitting, the central committee out of concern looked at the current challenges facing the UDC, something to be expected from a caring and responsible affiliate. We will be failing as a constituent member if we do not look at how we can deliver a better and appealing UDC. The central committee of the party can not withdraw the organisation from the UDC. It just does not have such powers. To suggest that will be preposterous and a failure to understand how the BNF functions. For such to take place, there should be a Congress convened as it was this highest decision making body that endorsed the party’s participation in the UDC. At the apex in terms of our structures, it is the congress, followed by the Conference, the central committee and then the Regions going downwards.
Contrary to insinuations that the cc is on a collision course with President Cde Duma Boko, the BNF remains united. Of course, as a properly functioning progressive organisation, there will always be debate on different views expressed, which at times might differ with those of the leader. This is natural and is to be expected. One should not expect a living organisation like ours to have one direction street thinking. What is however important is to have such debates remain internal. and constructive. It is this culture that has brought vibrancy to the party. The impression that is also created is that there is a structure operating elsewhere called the Presidency. The President of the BNF is a member of the central committee.
There is no doubt that the nation is looking up to us, together with other progressive formations within the UDC to liberate them. We are at a time when we should as much as possible not play into the hands of the enemies of the struggle. Otherwise we will be used by our opponents to divert attention from their demise. We should as BNF members remain solid and united and not fall into the trap of false equivalence, which is a tactic to take attention away from the crisis facing the ruling BDP as a result of blatant abuse of public resources, power and authority taking place right in front of us.
Our focus as the BNF should be on how we ready and help mold a new authority and power that will take over in 2019. There will be no collapse of power without a new and viable power emerging.
