What is next for Moatlhodi?
Ryder Gabathuse | Friday April 11, 2014 12:33
At the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) headquarters, Tsholetsa House, Moatlhodi is still considered a member. The secretariat has however, been following media reports on Moatlhodi’s membership dynamics with keen interest.
While the BDP deputy executive secretary, Lee Lesetedi confirmed this week that Moatlhodi is still in their books as a member, he would not be drawn into speaking on the Tonota South MP’s talks with the opposition, as widely reported in the media.
“To the best of my knowledge, Moatlhodi is still a BDP member as we have nothing as the party secretariat suggesting that he is not,” said Lesetedi, who is currently on leave. In recent weeks, the eccentric politician, ‘PPP’ as Moatlhodi is known, had been reported to be contemplating defecting to unfamiliar territory, the opposition Botswana National Front (BNF).
He has confirmed that fact in previous media interviews.
This is uncharacteristic of Moatlhodi who for the past two terms was solid at the helm of the constituency, successfully warding off any challenges that came his way.
Moatlhodi was very popular in Tonota South so much that he frustrated some of his challengers in the party as they had to shelve their political ambitions.
Dr Batlang Serema, former BDP executive secretary, is one of the politicians who was forced to throw in the towel early after failing to unseat Moatlhodi.
Another Tonota-born BDP activist who can attest to Moatlhodi’s power is MacDonald Peloetletse, who after unsuccessfully challenging the maverick politician, decided to withdraw his candidature.
These were serious contenders who were forced to surrender the political game to Moatlhodi as he seemed very unshakeable in the area at the time.
But now Moatlhodi is less forthcoming.
“The media has dented my image badly as some of the practitioners have been deliberately quoting me out of context and I think enough damage has been done,” he said in an interview with Mmegi this week. He refused to be drawn into discussing the latest dynamics relating to his membership of the BDP. “I prefer to keep quiet than to have people feasting on wrong stories about me,” he said before hanging up.
Moatlhodi is not new to controversy. In 2008, President Ian Khama recalled him as BDP MP following his utterances in Parliament that the civil service was being militarised. The recall pained him so badly he shed tears at a meeting held in Tonota at the Mimosa Hall.
A delegation from the constituency then went to the President on their MP’s behalf to seek his pardon, and he was allowed to continue, even earning a promotion to the seat of deputy Speaker of the National Assembly a year later.
Last year, in the controversial Bulela Ditswe, Moatlhodi suffered a heavy loss to Khama’s confidante Thapelo Olopeng. Olopeng garnered a comfortable 3,472 votes against Moatlhodi’s 2,196 votes. Coming way third was retired senior assistant commissioner of Prisons, Lehoto Obusitswe with only 233 votes. He tried to appeal, but was snubbed. He then started engaging the Botswana Congress Party, hoping to replace the party candidate in the constituency, Themba Joina, but the talks fell through. Taolo Lucas, the BCP publicity secretary told Mmegi this week that whilst the Tonota party local structures have had talks with Moatlhodi, it could not get anywhere because the party already has a parliamentary aspirant.
He then set his eyes on the next opposition party, Botswana National Front, which had fielded Maokaneng Bontshetse as its Umbrella for Democratic Change hopeful. These talks, which the BNF publicity secretary, Moeti Mohwasa confirmed this week, have reportedly created conflict in the BNF/UDC structures. It was reported in Mmegi this week that the BNF leadership forum meeting in Shoshong over the weekend were informed of the animosity these talks were creating.
But then the BNF mouthpiece is still not distancing Moatlhodi from the party, saying “There is nothing wrong with recruiting anyone to become a BNF member.” Mohwasa would, however, not shed more light on the issue save to confirm that talks were ongoing. Other than joining the existing political parties, Moatlhodi can choose to go independent, a decision that he has to make now. There is always a danger in procrastinating as time flies and time is money. About 10 years ago, Moatlhodi took over Tonota South from the late Lemme Makgekgenene. He was previously a councillor in Francistown-Central before he relocated to his home village.