'I was insulted' - Moatlhodi
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Tuesday April 15, 2014 14:18
The Tonota South Member of Parliament Pono Moatlhodi yesterday served the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) with a resignation letter.
In a two-paged letter to the BDP secretary general Mpho Balopi, Moatlhodi blamed his resignation on his nemesis, BDP deputy treasurer Thapelo Olopeng. He said insults from the man he lost to in last November’s Bulela Ditswe forced him to resign from the party he lovingly served for over 39 years.
“It is very unfortunate and regretful that the insults as well as the mocks and teases that Olopeng and his campaign team meted and continue to mete out to me with no shoulder to lean on, including the BDP central committee, left me with no other option but to resign with immediate effect from the ruling Botswana Democratic Party,” wrote Moatlhodi.
Moatlhodi, who is also the deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, outlined how he joined the BDP in 1975 in Selebi-Phikwe.
He also highlighted numerous positions he held in the party until he was elected Tonota South MP in 1999. He said he defended the parliamentary seat since then until November 2013 when his counterpart Olopeng “won irregularly”.
He said prior to that he wrote at least eight letters of appeal to the central committee which continued to ignore his communication.
Moatlhodi confirmed his resignation to Mmegi yesterday. “I can confirm my resignation. I will go where God leads me,” said Moatlhodi.
Olopeng on the other hand denied ever insulting or defaming Moatlhodi in the constituency.
“As far as we are concerned, Moatlhodi has been in talks with opposition parties. He has not been active in party activities in the constituency and had the habit of attacking the party and its parliamentary candidate in Tonota South,” said Olopeng.He also said recently the party President Ian Khama called him to explain allegations of his cosiness to the Botswana National Front (BNF) but Moatlhodi denied the allegations. Olopeng claimed that Moatlhodi promised to work together with the winners but that has never happened.
The BDP executive secretary Sechele Sechele also confirmed receipt of Moatlhodi’s resignation.
Meanwhile councillor for Boseja East ward in Maun East, Baphutholodi Kgari, also resigned from the BDP yesterday. In his letter he said he will keep his seat until the general elections.