Khama warns BDP: I have a plan
Innocent Selatlhwa | Tuesday September 19, 2023 06:00
Khama emphasised that he had a plan to counter the BDP's ‘wicked’ actions in the build-up to the 2024 General Election. Khama minced no words as he expressed his deep-seated concerns about the BDP's leadership. "We started BPF in 2019 because we realised the BDP is corrupt and does not care about Batswana.
They are not capable, as you can see; President Mokgweetsi Masisi is on holiday abroad. He never brings results because he is on a joyride," Khama said. Drawing attention to what he viewed as a skewed focus on foreign affairs by President Masisi, Khama said, "While other countries have foreign affairs ministers, we have a foreign affairs president who is always at foreign countries.
We should thus work with others and form a government that will work for Batswana." Highlighting the BPF's strength and popularity, Khama pointed to their significant accomplishments. "Just in 2019, we managed to defeat the BDP in their strongholds in Serowe. We also worked with the UDC and defeated them in some areas in Central.
Ever since 2019, we worked with the UDC and successfully won by-elections in preparation for taking power in 2024." However, Khama also raised concerns about the BPF's challenges, particularly their clashes with the BDP. "Since we are a very strong party, the BDP is after us. Masisi cannot face myself, Mephato Reatile, and Duma Boko.
He hides behind the DIS and others," Khama said. He accused the BDP of detaining BPF members and fabricating charges against them, as well as launching attacks through state media. Addressing the issue of party members defecting to the BDP, Khama expressed his frustration. "One is the Women’s Wing president today, tomorrow they are being welcomed at BDP.
Next thing we have a president who says he wants us to be imprisoned. What does that mean? That is BDP’s doing because they are scared of us and try by all means to destroy us," he said. Khama also noted a significant change within the BPF. "Some of them who left were broke. Now they are loaded, they can hold congresses, with buses, merchandise, and many other things," he stated.
Khama told members that there were attempts to stop them from holding the congress. He, however, cautioned that they would retaliate at the attack the BDP-led government has meted on them. "We will not just sit back. I have a plan.
I will not reveal it now, but the BDP must know that we will not leave them alone. They are going to fail,” he said. Khama concluded his address by acknowledging improvements within the party following long periods of infighting. "Last year we had divisions in the NEC. But things are now better," he said. He congratulated Reatile for ensuring the successful congress and called on BPF members to unite in their shared goal of defeating the BDP.