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 The group amongst others include the Vice-Chairperson of the BCP in Kweneng region, Duke Molelekedi, who was also the party parliamentary candidate in Kweneng South and Murray Dipate who was the BCP parliamentary candidate in Thamaga. According to a press release from the group the defectors include four council candidates in the last general elections from Mogoditshane, Kweneng East and South constituencies. The list further includes eight people that are identified as organisers in Thamaga, Mogoditshane, Kopong and Mmankgodi.
A spokesman of the group,Duke Molelekedi, said they made the decision to join BNF because the newly elected BCP president, Gilson Saleshando, has made it clear that he does not support unity. He said the general membership of the BCP has shown support for opposition cooperation and only BOSEMA region (Bobirwa, Selibe Phikwe and Mmadinare) has rejected the initiative. He said they were not happy with the recent signing of a memorandum of agreement between BCP, BNF and Botswana Alliance Movement because it not enough as it is only limited to by-elections. Molelekedi emphasised that they fully understand that unity does not mean dissolution of other parties. “We want a common goal and unity does not mean parties are being dissolved,” he asserted. He explained that they could not wait for Gaborone West North parliamentary by-election because the BCP is not doing enough to show its support for opposition unity. The party is not holding rallies to sensitise its members about the importance of their support for BNF in the by-elections, he said. But on the other hand, the BNF is doing a lot to promote BCP. He cited Ramotswa as a good example. “In Ramotswa BNF is doing a lot to show its support for BCP in council by-elections but BCP is not doing the same in Gaborone,” he said. Although the defections could be a big catch for the BNF they have somehow put the party leadership in a catch 22 situation. Because of the fragile opposition cooperation the BNF seems not too sure whether to party and go lyrical about their latest additions as this might antagonise their BCP partners in the newly clinched cooperation pact. BNF secretary general, Akanyang Magama, confirmed that Kgosipula and others met him on Friday and told him about their defection. Magama was confident that the defections will not affect opposition cooperation. He said the agreement they have with BCP is based on parties and not individuals. He said even BNF has lost members to other parties including those with which they are in agreement.The BCP President Gilson Saleshando confirmed that he was aware of the latest defections. He was in Gaborone until Friday and on his way to Selebi Phikwe, he was informed that some members have left the party. He indicated that the recent signing of a memorandum of agreement with BNF and BAM is an initiative of BCP therefore it was clear that they support opposition unity. He dismissed the groups’ complaint that the agreement is limited to by-elections as a lame excuse. He was confident that the resignations will not affect the agreement adding that it is important to look at reasons why people defect to other parties. Saleshando was supposed to address a political rally in Gaborone last week to launch his party’s support for BNF in Gaborone West North constituency by-elections. However the police said the rally could not go on because they do not have the personnel to provide security.
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