After having vowed to hold the now ruling Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) to task as the biggest opposition block, the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) leader, Dumelang Saleshando has criticised the coalition party over how it handled the specially elected members of parliament (SEMPs) process.
The six Specially Elected Members of Parliament nominated by President Duma Gideon Boko were elected on Wednesday afternoon. These are former cabinet minister, Bogolo Kenewendo, former Miss Botswana Lesego Chombo, Major General Pius Mokgware, UB Lecture Nono Kgafela-Mokoka, UDC Spokesperson Moeti Mohwasa and Medical practitioner Dr Stephen Modise.
Saleshando expressed disappointed that the UDC’s choice of SEMPs has shown unequivocally that it does not hold any principles that guides parties. He criticized the party for having gone against its promise of not bringing back to parliament those who lost general elections.
“The UDC has always said it does not support bringing back to parliament through the SEMP dispensation members who lost the elections, but today it has shown us unequivocally that they do not hold any principles,” Saleshando condemned.
This as Boko has successfully nominated Major General Pius Mokgware and Nono Kgafela Mokoka who both lost the elections to Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) in the Gabane-Mankgodi and Kgatleng East constituencies respectively.
“I am surprised that of all the parties the UDC will bring two losers of elections to come and become Members of Parliament,” Saleshando startled.
He accused the UDC of being as good as the BDP but the difference being that its dressed in blue, “it depends where they are standing whatever was wrong with the BDP, if it suits them they will wear the hat.”
Saleshando also complained that the UDC chose not to consult any of the opposition parties at least the BCP as the main opposition party. This he said shows that the party has no desire for inclusive politics which he pointed is what the party said it wanted when they were in opposition.
He added that the party has also failed on its promises of bringing to parliament three main categories which include women/ youth, people with disabilities and minority groups. “I dint see anyone with disability as well as anyone who comes from minority groups.”
With the first task of the Specially Elected Members of Parliament, Saleshando concluded that the UDC has shown that they are as good as the BDP hoping that the party will go back to principles it advocated for when they were in opposition. “As for the first task, the UDC showed us that they are just like the BDP.”
However, President Boko indicated that in choosing the SEMPs, they wanted to reach out broadly as possible to bring in young women particularly those with skills and are visible in society.
“We reckon they did not come any better than Kenewendo who as far as we know is a BDP member. We wanted to bring her in because of her attributes. I also wanted a very young person and we ultimately settled for Lesego Chombo who is visible in the society.”
Boko further indicated that the party also looked at increasing the number of women hence they brought in Kgafela-Mokoka. He added that following their agreement with his vice president Ndaba Gaolathe that they needed a medical doctor in parliament they therefore settled for Dr Modise- who is also a lecture in medicine in the Caribbean. “We brought in further calm influence in Mohwasa and as well as veteran Mokgware.”
