Moatlhodi fuels speculation on next political move
Chakalisa Dube | Monday August 7, 2023 06:00
It was previously speculated that Moatlhodi intends not to contest the 2024 General Election when his term comes to an end. He was said to be vilely campaigning for Baemedi Medupi, who is the chairperson of the ruling party for the Francistown region.
It has also been widely reported that Moatlhodi prefers Medupi as his successor ahead of another parliamentary hopeful Andy Boatile. Both Boatile and Medupi, who are councillors in the constituency, are expected to contest for the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) primaries in Tonota later this year, in a bid to book candidacy for the next general election. Medupi, who has made his parliamentary ambitions no secret, has also been a regular feature during activities organised by Moatlhodi in Tonota.
Boatile is even on record accusing Moatlhodi of using Kgotla meetings to campaign for Medupi. Now, Moatlhodi has issued a near vague statement about his political future, with a deadline for ruling party members to declare their intentions for the primaries anticipated to be soon. On Saturday, during his welcome rally, Moatlhodi made insinuations that he might opt to stand for the BDP primaries, or he has not made up his mind about his political future. “In 2024, whether I am contesting or not I will work tirelessly to ensure that the BDP retains the constituency.
I will traverse the whole constituency to ensure that Masisi (Mokgweetsi) is retained as President. The BDP must return to government,” Moatlhodi said. Moatlhodi’s remarks were met by an element of astonishment by ruling party supporters who attended the weekend rally. Some had initially speculated that he would use his welcome rally as a perfect opportunity to bid his constituents farewell. Moatlhodi’s weekend remarks even fuelled talk that the Deputy Speaker of Parliament used the weekend rally to gauge his support before deciding whether he should contest or not.
The legislator was even more confusing when Mmegi asked him if he has intentions to vie for another parliamentary term. “I still maintain that whether I am contesting or not in 2024, I will work like a slave for this party to win. I will work very hard. It is a must for the BDP to win,” he said. Pressed for more clarity, Moatlhodi said: “That is a fully loaded statement (referring to his earlier remarks).
Have a good day.” He is in his third term as a legislator. He was first elected to Parliament in 2004. He would serve two consecutive terms under the BDP before he was defeated by Thapelo Olopeng at the then controversy ridden BDP primaries to book candidacy at the 2014 General Election. He would quit the ruling party after the 2014 General Election and join the Botswana National Front (BNF), an affiliate of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC). He was later elected as an MP for the opposition in October 2019 but defected to the BDP a year later.