BDP to scrutinise Ledumadumane East loss
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday February 14, 2022 06:00
Already the mini-report, which has been taken to the party chairperson Slumber Tsogwane, while a proper and complete one is yet to be made, has pointed fingers at some members who allegedly played a role in the by-election loss.
The BDP members within the Mogoditshane constituency have never had peace amongst themselves since 2017. The constituency is one of the areas that give the BDP leadership sleepless nights because of the infighting. Even though the party won Ledumadumane East ward in the 2019 General Election with a slim margin, it hoped to win it again. But from the infighting within the constituency, it was clear that the rumblings will further cause damage come by-election day.
Before election day on February 4, there were reports that some party members were spotted de-campaigning the party and supporting the opposition. The BDP was voted by 281 people while the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) received 371 votes.
The BDP chairperson for the Mogoditshane branch Percy Tshuba said: “A lot has happened. We will take our report concerning the by-election to the party. Of course, a report has been made and an evaluation report will be taken to the party. It is confidential and it cannot be shared with the media.”
Contrary to some accounts, an insider stated there was a meeting on Sunday where members blamed each other for lack of support.
“There is division in the area since some members who support area MP Tumiso Rakgare were sidelined by some members of the branch committee. Some members of the branch committee who were at the forefront of the campaign did not avail information to those who were on the MP's side. Some members of the branch accuse some within the regional committee and Rakgare's supporters of failing to campaign for the aspirant candidate [Thato Kgwatalala],” the insider said.
Mmegi has it on record that the party leadership has asked both the region and branch committees to make an official evaluation report that it will act on.
Already, both the branch and regional committees are running helter-skelter as the party leadership wants them to account for what transpired, leading to the party ending up losing the ward. It will not be the first time the party leadership intervenes in the Mogoditshane constituency infighting, as efforts always proved unsuccessful in the past. However, the party never thought the infighting could become unsalvageable to a point of one faction de-campaigning the party.
On the other hand, the Kweneng region is expected to meet this week for an evaluation report. It is yet to be seen whether the outcome of the evaluation meeting will divide them even further or not. The BDP Kweneng chairperson Obakeng Kgabo said: "We are yet to meet to prepare an evaluation report to the party. As the region, we are worried about the loss of Lentsweletau and Ledumadumane East wards. I cannot comment on party internal issues, however.”
For his part, the area MP Rakgare said: “Honestly, as the MP of the area, I am hurt by the outcome of the by-election. No one can celebrate a loss. I am not going to divulge party issues in the media. It is unfortunate if anyone has shared party internal issues with you. We are going to find out who that person is, and a disciplinary hearing will be taken against such a member. Some people have the intention to destroy our party. Issues are always there and people differ but that does not give anyone the right to talk issues out [publicly]. As the party, we are going to sit down, evaluate cell by cell and at ward level before engaging other structures on what could have happened or issues that are on the ground.”
Rakgare said he will also work with the elected councillor to bring development to Ledumadumane East.