Moatlhodi�s envisaged move rocks BNF
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Tuesday March 25, 2014 15:25
Moatlhodi, Bontshetse and the BNF secretary general Tapiso Kgosikoma, have confirmed the talks.
While the embattled Botswana Democratic Party MP is now talking, and apparently causing confusion in the BNF and Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), last month, he was in talks with the Botswana Congress Party (BCP).
Following the collapse of the BCP talks, some BNF members in the constituency are said to have approached Bontshetse to pave way for Moatlhodi. The area MP, who is still reeling from the BDP primaries loss to Thapelo Olopeng, is said to be considering relocating to the BNF to stand as a UDC candidate in the October general elections. The move is said to have divided BNF members in the constituency as some had started de-campaigning Bontshetse in favour of Moatlhodi.
Mmegi has learnt that BNF leaders had told Moatlhodi that he should negotiate with Bontshetse to pave way for him if he wants to stand under their ticket. The leadership is also said to have told Moatlhodi they would not interfere if Bontshetse refuses.
It has emerged that some in the Tonota constituency had gone to BNF secretary general Tapiso Kgosikoma behind Bontshetse’s back, and asked the leadership to ask the young leader to pave way for Moatlhodi.
It is alleged that Moatlhodi had made a promise to BNF members in the area that he would defect from the BDP in July if Bontshetse and BNF agree to his terms.
The matter has so divided the party that some council candidates favouring Moatlhodi’s recruitment to contest for their party are said to have stopped attending BNF activities called by Bontshetse.
While some are planning a special congress in the constituency so that the constituents may have a say after Moatlhodi’s possible defection, Bontshetse told Mmegi that he couldn’t discuss the issue that is still before constituency committee. “I am aware of the issue but it is still being handled by the constituency committee. For now I cannot comment much on the matter,” he said.
Bontshetse said they would hold a meeting with BNF members this week to talk about the issue. However, he confirmed that he had a meeting with Moatlhodi but refused to state whether the meeting was about the issue or not.
Kgosikoma said for now there is nothing official but he knows that some of their members had been in talks with Moatlhodi.
He said what they know is that Bontshetse is still their preferred candidate.
For his part, Moatlhoadi said he is still in talks with BNF and cannot rule out that he might contest under its ticket.
“We have not yet finalised any thing, but our talks are still continuing. Of course some had even gone to the extent of talking to my parents in that party. Remember I am not just an ordinary Member of Parliament and that is why some want me to be their member,” he said.
Moatlhodi said what annoys him, is that there are some people in the BDP who are spying on his movements or any meeting that he holds with opposition party people.
He said those people should go to “hell” and they should know that he has a right of association.
However, he did not dispute that he might quit BDP any time soon but he said he has not made up his mind to quit in July.
Moatlhodi said he is concerned that BDP is after him, and trying to ruin his life unnecessarily.
“I do not understand why these people, BDP are after me when they had clearly shown that they do not have interest in me,” he said.
Moatlhodi confirmed at one point that he was in talks with BCP, but they failed to agree.