By Caroline Kanshabe
The Opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party has advised the Leader of Opposition in Parliament (LoP), Mathias Mpuuga, to explore alternative strategies in seeking resolution for the case of the 18 missing persons, cautioning that a parliamentary boycott may not yield the desired results.
Speaking at the party headquarters in Najjanankumbi during the weekly press briefing on Monday, John Kikonyogo, the FDC spokesperson, urged Mpuuga to engage with leaders of all opposition parties to reach a consensus on the issue rather than pursuing a boycott.
“FDC, as a party, has been a victim for many years, and inevitably, we have brought a lot of experience. A number of us are here for consultancy as of today on how we can handle these issues. It should not be an individual’s responsibility to fight alone and try to blackmail anybody else,” Kikonyogo said.
He suggested a strategy of singling out individuals, taking legal action against them, and holding them accountable for producing the missing persons instead of demanding action from the entire government.
“It is very dangerous if you are looking to rescue someone and at the same time you are fighting for political recognition. You may not succeed because those people who don’t want you to succeed may end up fighting from your own camp,” Kikonyogo stated.
He further expressed concern that the opposition’s lack of proper planning for the boycott could hinder its success, urging strategic considerations and a clear end game.
Kikonyogo clarified that FDC Members of Parliament are not participating in the boycott because the party was not consulted.
However, in response to this, Mpuuga asserted last week that all political parties were engaged through their whips during the shadow cabinet, and the whips are expected to convey the outcomes to their respective party headquarters.
