BDP, BNF to set Tonota alight
Ryder Gabathuse | Thursday April 24, 2014 12:52
The BDP deputy treasurer and the party parliamentary candidate, Thapelo Olopeng said yesterday that the general elections’ candidates would be launched at a rally billed for the bus/taxi rank in the village on Saturday.
Former vice president, Mompati Merafhe, ex-minister and veteran politician, Kebatlamang Morake, Finance and Development Planning Minister, Kenneth Matambo and secretary general Mpho Balopi are expected to speak at the launch. Olopeng said the weekend launch would show the party’s strong presence in Tonota.
Some have suggested that the recent defection of the area MP, Pono Moatlhodi to the opposition BNF has weakened the BDP in the area. Olopeng disputes that, saying the BDP has become even stronger with rising support from youthful activists who have been less than enthusiastic in recent years.
“Through the weekend launch, we would like to show the constituents their candidates and the BDP’s loyalty to the people of Tonota generally,” said Olopeng.
The BDP man insisted that, “surprisingly, despite the fact that we lost an MP to the opposition BNF, the mood in the BDP camp is so calm and there is nothing to panic about”. He said that although people hold a general belief that he is strongly supported by the youth in Tonota, “even the elderly people still rally behind the party in large numbers”.
He claimed that the response from the elderly people in Tonota as his team canvassed for support has been that, “they are disappointed with Moatlhodi because he has only lost the party primaries like any other politician who has lost.” Olopeng dismissed suggestions that Moatlhodi could have decamped with a sizeable number of BDP supporters to the BNF.
“Come to our launch and read the mood and the hype of the BDP enthusiasts and be a witness that we still command a large following in the area,” declared Olopeng in an interview.
On the other hand, BNF activists are enthusiastically selling their latest recruit, portraying Moatlhodi as a big catch, re-christening the maverick politician as a ‘Queen Bee’ who brought with him a large crowd from the BDP.
Moatlhodi, who is to be launched in Tonota on Sunday, is expected to cross the floor with a good number of his supporters from the BDP. But Moatlhodi’s decision to join the BNF has not been fully embraced.
There is bickering with some BNF operatives saying the party already has a candidate in Bontshetse Moakaneng, and therefore Moatlhodi cannot be imposed on Tonota constituents. At last week’s press conference in Gaborone to welcome Moatlhodi, the BNF president Duma Boko declared that constituents in Tonota would decide who represents them.
Yesterday, the BNF secretary for international affairs Kwenantle Gaseitsiwe confirmed to Mmegi that a central committee delegation – comprising him, party chairman Abraham Kesupile and secretary for political education, Sam Digwa - will on Sunday officially hand over Moatlhodi to Tonota constituents.
“We want the constituents to appreciate that Moatlhodi is the Tonota incumbent MP for BNF and they should welcome him and work with him,” Gaseitsiwe said.
He said after that, Moatlhodi should be free to work closely with the party regional and branch structures.
Moatlhodi also confirmed in an interview that he would be officially introduced to the party structures at Manyanda Complex Freedom Square. “For all those who doubt my strength they should come to my launch where the numbers shall speak for myself,” promised a spirited Moatlhodi.