UDC and BCP Put Other Parties at a Disadvantage, Says Morwaeng The Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) and Botswana Congress Party (BCP) have come under fire from other opposition parties for allegedly putting them at a disadvantage in the upcoming general elections. According to Botswana Peoples Party (BPP) President Motlatsi Morwaeng, the UDC and BCP have been using their incumbency to gain an unfair advantage over other parties. “The UDC and BCP have been distributing food and other handouts to voters in their constituencies,” said Morwaeng. “This is a clear violation of the electoral code and it gives them an unfair advantage over other parties who do not have the same resources.” Morwaeng also accused the UDC and BCP of using their control of the media to promote their candidates and policies. “The state-owned media is giving disproportionate coverage to the UDC and BCP,” he said. “This is a clear attempt to influence the outcome of the election in their favor.” Morwaeng’s comments come as the opposition parties are preparing for the general elections, which are scheduled to be held in October. The elections are expected to be closely contested, and the outcome could have a significant impact on the future of Botswana’s democracy. The UDC and BCP have denied the allegations, saying that they are simply doing what is necessary to win the election. They have also accused the other opposition parties of sour grapes and of trying to gain an unfair advantage by complaining about the UDC and BCP. The Electoral Commission of Botswana has said that it is investigating the allegations of electoral misconduct. The commission has also warned all parties to abide by the electoral code or face penalties.Confusion Over UDC Representation at All Party ConferenceConfusion Over UDC Representation at All Party Conference The Minister for State President, Kabo Morwaeng, has raised concerns about the representation of opposition parties at the All Party Conference (APC) following the separation of the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) and the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC). Previously, the BCP was part of the UDC coalition, but has since withdrawn. However, Morwaeng noted that UDC affiliates are still attending the APC as separate entities, despite being part of the same coalition. This arrangement, according to Morwaeng, places parties outside of coalitions at a disadvantage in decision-making processes. In the event of a vote, the multiplier effect of coalition members could tilt the results against smaller parties not represented by a coalition. Morwaeng called on participants to reassess the mandate and purpose of the APC to ensure fairness and a level playing field for all parties. He also apologized for the delay in convening the second meeting of the APC, scheduled for March, due to competing priorities. Another key item on the agenda was the proposal of modalities for operationalizing government political funding. With the general elections approaching in three months, political parties have not yet distributed the P34.6 million available for funding. Despite the delay, Morwaeng emphasized that the groundwork has been laid for the development of political funding modalities by the government.UDC and BCP Put Other Parties at a Disadvantage, Says Morwaeng Opposition parties in Botswana have accused the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) of forming an alliance with the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) and the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) to put other parties at a disadvantage. The Botswana National Front (BNF) spokesperson, Justin Hunyepa, said that the alliance was a clear indication that the BDP was afraid of competition. “The BDP is trying to create a monopoly in Botswana’s politics,” Hunyepa said. “They are afraid of losing power, so they are trying to eliminate any competition.” The Botswana People’s Party (BPP) leader, Motlatsi Molapisi, agreed with Hunyepa. He said that the alliance was a “betrayal of the democratic process.” “The BDP is supposed to be the guardian of democracy in Botswana,” Molapisi said. “But instead, they are trying to undermine it.” The UDC and the BCP have denied that they are in an alliance with the BDP. However, they have admitted that they are working together on some issues. The BDP spokesperson, Mpho Balopi, said that the party was not afraid of competition. He said that the party was simply trying to work with other parties to improve the lives of Batswana. “We are not afraid of competition,” Balopi said. “We are simply trying to work with other parties to improve the lives of Batswana.” The alliance between the UDC and the BCP has raised concerns among other opposition parties. They fear that the alliance will make it difficult for them to compete in the upcoming elections. The elections are scheduled to be held in October 2024.