He was bewildered by the fact that Kwelagobe was being attacked for exercising his constitutional right. He offered to compensate Seretse for the goats, which she said she gave to Kwelagobe for his long service at the party's 2007 congress.

He accused some BDP members of abusing their influence in the party, much to the delight of the discerning crowd, who appeared to know who he was referring to.

Motswaledi rebuked those he said were trying to advocate for the deferment of BDP elections on the basis of a non-binding resolution passed some years ago. The resolution provides that party elections may be postponed when they coincide with general elections.

Speaking with his usual eloquence and wit, Motswaledi argued that the resolution is stale and belongs to the dustbin of history.

"A resolution does not supersede the party constitution," he said. He was concerned by reports that some party members are plotting a succession plan in the BDP. He said that a select group of individuals meet in secret to select party leaders without regard to the wishes and democratic rights of ordinary members. "Where is the role of party members," he demanded. He said all BDP members are equal and they must be consulted at all times. 

He said that a leader must be disturbed when people are complaining that phones are being tapped and democracy is under threat.  He pointed out that a good leader must be concerned when his people live in fear.

When he rose to speak, Kwelagobe had little to say about his aspirations to be re-elected as Molepolole South MP. But he told the gathering that he wanted to serve again as the party chairman. He dismissed reports that he is too old and unwell to serve the party politics. He said he has been the subject of veiled attacks from fellow party members simply because he had shown interest in contesting a Central Committee position.

He said that he has been labelled a power hungry individual with reports that he is unfit and old to continue in politics.

"Ba rotlhe re a lwala (no one is immune from ill health)," he said. Kwelagobe is 65-years-old. He wondered what the fuss is all about when many older men in the party are still actively involved in politics and holding positions of responsibility. He said the likes of Moshupa MP Maithoko Mooka and cabinet ministers, Baledzi Gaolathe and Ponatshego Kedikilwe are older than him but are still active in politics. The crowd roared in the affirmative when Kwelagobe said that Vice President Mompati Merafhe was much older than him. "Rre Merafhe ke nkgonne. (Merafhe is older than me)," Kwelagobe stated.

Wynter Mmolotsi, a candidate for the position of BDP deputy secretary general said the  Francistown region where he comes from has endorsed Kwelagobe's candidate as party chairman.

Citing the words of the first Botswana president the late Sir Seretse Khama, he cautioned the party against the dangers of being receptive to handpicked leaders. He praised Kwelagobe as a man of strong values and principles, who had forfeited the material comforts of a cabinet post, to serve the party. He described DK as a champion of democracy against insurmountable obstacles.

"Hand picked leaders would go against what Seretse Khama said," he said and the crowd ululated. Sitting at the high table at the launch was ex-president Festus Mogae, former MP Bahiti Temane, Kwelagobe, Kedikilwe, MPs Guma Moyo, Botsalo Ntuane and others.

Just behind the front row was Khama's close ally and cabinet minster Dikgakgamatso Seretse who seemed to be in enemy territory as one speaker after another took a jab indirectly at the president.