It is slowly but surely becoming clear that Botswana Congress Party is the new home for principled Botswana National Front members who are not ‘opposition unity blind folded or fooled’. The political ideas that BCP time and again puts forward as the alternative, compels an appreciation by genuine BNF members. Along with that genuine admiration of issues highlighted by BCP, it calls also for action to identify with those political beliefs. I define politics first as the battle of contending ideas and second as action to agitate and fight for what one identifies with. People who associate themselves with certain analysis and thoughts on one side organise together; they then as a unit confront the other part of the society that represents opposing views. Political parties only then officially reflect as organisations of ideologies for people who believe in certain sets of political ideas. Thence members of BNF have no reasonable grounds not to affiliate with Botswana Congress Party, to organise together against western colonial liberalism engraved in both UDC and BDP.
It is natural for slightly unhappy BDP members to easily identify with the more youthful UDC for the obvious reason that both parties are for the same political and economic agenda. The only significant differences between the two organisations are that BDP is led by President Khama’s faction, the A-Team, while UDC leadership is dominated by Barata-Phathi faction pinned outside the BDP. The UDC leadership is mostly influenced and for the interest of Barata-Phathi faction leaders within BDP. The former presidents Rre Masire and Rre Mogae and the former speaker, Mma Nasha, champion the process of instilling distrust of BDP members on the sitting president to beef up the impact of UDC. But for whose interest is this? This all serves not to change the political and economic policies that Khama or the current BDP use to govern but only to oust him and end his influence to pave way for Barata-Phathi faction. The Barata-Phathi clique both in UDC and BDP have no particular interest in advancing the struggle that the BNF was formed for. The agenda by which BNF was formed remains justified, but cannot be won through UDC under which the ideas of BNF have been successfully paralysed.
At the moment there is a new group of BNF members including three members of parliament within the UDC who are even now trying to organise the resurrection of the soul of the BNF. This is still the very soul that the Mochudi and Mahalapye congress and the Tsabong and Kanye Conference resolutions highlighted as necessary to protect. It seems every season there is a new group of genuine members realising the truth about BNF either dying or dead. The soul and the mandate of the party have been betrayed under the UDC. Being one of those who foresaw what the comrades are recognising currently, I however do not see the possibility of fighting for the interest of The Front and winning against the UDC President, Duma Boko, and the BDP’s Barata-Phathi faction manifesting as BMD.
The UDC leadership has succeeded in making many people believe that change is about putting political and economic visions aside. Change has been reduced to and centered in embracing Boko and his associates, BMD leaders and some BDP elites. The conditions at UDC just as at BDP are deliberately made to discourage a platform for debate, criticism and self criticism within its members. The hypocrites have hypnotised the people to merely talking negatively about Khama and BCP; fitting ‘Ke tshwere Moono’ in place of demanding political and economic solutions; obedience to personality cults and labelling and victimising any other person suggesting anything not supported by the UDC leadership and some BDP elites. A common UDC supporter does not care about fundamental freedoms, distribution of wealth, land allocation, employment creation, tribal rights and justice, decent shelter and a living wage for all workers. The ordinary UDC member’s mind is completely isolated to his/her political and economic needs. This state of affairs does not accommodate a citizen interested in lobbying for the needs of the people. This is done intentionally to demoralise the potential energy of principled BNF members who are advanced in working class consciousness and have the proficiency to spell wrong as it is.
The hypnotism evident at UDC has also spilt out in to the whole of the society and that is why there is a high level of political intolerance based on political party affiliation. This petty attack by UDC members leaves little room for the oppressed people to exchange ideas and develop as a nation. If this UDC intentioned culture is not fought against, it will have negative impact on the conscious development of a Revolutionary process that will bring about alternative political and economic systems for this country. For us to achieve the dream for a nation based on equal rights and justice, I call on principled members of the society at large particularly members of BNF to organize under a more accommodating and sober organization. What the most quoted politician in Botswana, the former president of BNF Dr Kenneth Shololo Koma teaches in Pamphlet Number 1, 2 and 3 is what BCP is calling for.
The UDC and BDP have performed better than BCP in the last general elections, I do not dispute that. It is also undisputable that: the law of declaration of assets and liabilities; land audit, repossession and equal distribution of land to all citizens; access to affordable electricity and potable water; free quality education and health care for all; respect and protection of human rights regardless of tribe, gender, age, economic status and level of education; and upgrading of labour laws and provision of the minimum wage e.t.c are all the principles by which BNF was mandated for and at the same are all what BCP is pushing for. The tremendous performance of 3 BCP members of parliament against the combined UDC’s 17 and BDP’s 41 has a direct relationship with these set of political ideas. If we are to win these important issues we need to unite and agitate for these issues under the BCP. That is why as one of Botswana National Front members who recently have applied to join Botswana Congress Party I plead with you all principled BNF members to do the same for the sake of this nation. For the freedom of the nation the very same aims and objectives that our late party was formed we have to join BCP to progress.
Yours in struggle, Comrade Poloko Parks Monang, 75630121
*Kgololesego ya Sechaba.
