The newly registered Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) is expected to be recognised by parliament during the next seating of the house which starts next Tuesday.
UDC spokesperson, Moeti Mohwasa says members of parliament (MPs) for Botswana National Front and Botswana Movement for Democracy will be recognised as members of the new Party, although they will remain members of the respective parties under which they were elected to Parliament.
“We can’t say that BMD and BNF members will defect to UDC because they will remain members of their own Parties. You have to understand that BNF and BMD are member parties of the UDC,” Mohwasa explained.
As to when the matter will be brought before Parliament, Kgatleng East MP, who is also BMD Deputy Secretary General, Gilbert Mangole said they were in no hurry to introduce the new party to Parliament.
“We are not in a hurry about anything. We are not in a rush to change the current status quo unless circumstances dictate otherwise,” Mangole explained
Asked whether by “circumstances” he was preempting issues over the leader of opposition seat,which fell vacant when the former Leader of Opposition in Parliament Botsalo Ntuane defected from BMD to the ruling party last week, Mangole said that as far as he was concerned the coalition agreement between BNF and BMD qualifies them to appoint another leader of opposition from the Umbrella.
“The coalition still exists. BNF and BMD have a combined number of eight MPs while BCP has seven, so the coalition still has the edge to retain the seat,” Mangole contended.
The coalition had agreed it should be BNF’s turn to take over the position during the July session.
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Ths ting s dying a slow death it cnt sustain 2014
Rre Mangole o a bua, a sekhukhu se name se tswetswe re tshabe dipheho tsa kgwedi tse, re ta se gopola ka dikgakologo re ipakanyetsa selemo eseng jalo go ka sala diwairi hela.