Kopano House still grounded

LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI
Correspondent | Thursday May 15, 2008 00:00

The BNF has leased the plot to a car wash business and a container restaurant.

The organisation was allocated the plot in the 1980s to build the party headquarters but over the years there have been no developments there. The plot has been lying idle for a number of years and it is only recently that it has been fenced.

At some stage, the party raised funds for the Kopano project. In the 80's, a bank account was opened for the 'Kopano House' project and party members deposited money into the fund. 

At some stage, the plot was on the verge of being repossessed by the Department of Lands because it had not been developed for a number of years. BNF publicity chief, Moeti Mohwasa revealed that plans are at an advanced stage to develop the plot, adding that they have already submitted architectural designs to the Gaborone ity Council for approval.  He said they would soon produce an artist's impression of the building.  He indicated that they will also connect water at the plot.

Mohwasa said the building would consist of office space and shops.  The BNF official said they want to let out part of the building.  He said once their building is complete, they will move out of the current offices which they are renting.

However, Mohwasa said they have not sourced funding for the project.   He said they will have to find a way of raising funds for the project.  But he expressed confidence that they will start to put up the structures before the end of the year.

Mohwasa said they took a long time to develop the plot due to lack of funds. 

In another development, Mohwasa said the party's appeals committee has just started to hear protests over the primary elections. 

Some of the constituencies that have filed protests include Kanye South, Kanye North, Mogoditshane and Gaborone South. Mohwasa said there are also protests from some wards in Gaborone West South.  In fact, he said, this list is not exhaustive.  

In Gaborone South, the incumbent MP, Akanyang Magama defeated Gaborone attorney Tebogo Sebego.  Sebego protested about some irregularities in the primary elections. In Kanye South, the area MP, Omphitlhetse Maswabi was toppled by a relative new comer to the party, Abram Kesupile.  There are allegations that people who participated in last year's BDP primary elections were also used to vote in the BNF primaries. 

Former Mogoditshane MP, Mokgweetsi Kgosipula who was defeated in the primaries, has also filed a protest.

Mohwasa does not feel that the outcome of the protests will cause instability for the embattled party. 

He said the BNF constitution allows any party member who is not happy with the manner in which the primary elections were conducted to protest.  Mohwasa said there could only be upheavals if people were not allowed to protest against the results. He said the party leadership feels that they should always abide by the constitution. 

He is hoping that the party will finish with hearing the protests so that they may start campaigning for next year's general election.