BNF welcomes Moatlhodi in Tonota
Ryder Gabathuse | Tuesday April 29, 2014 12:31
First to take to the podium was the BNF’s parliamentary candidate in Tonota South, Bontshetse Maokaneng. The youthful politician set the rally alight when he described the party’s latest catch in the vernacular as “teemane ya rona PPP (PPP our diamond).”
He told the ecstatic rally that he was not the newsmaker but Moatlhodi was. “We are all elated that a politician of Moatlhodi’s calibre has joined the BNF.” UDC enthusiasts took this as a good omen after reports that Moatlhodi and Maokaneng were engaged in a bitter fight over the BNF ticket in Tonota. “Confusion, pain and regret is in the BDP camp not in BNF,” Maokaneng said to a thunderous shout from the UDC followers. He said BDP policies and programmes were failing the youth in Tonota and it is only logical that disillusioned BDP members should join the BNF.
BNF secretary general, Ferdinand Kgosikoma told the rally that he was sent by the BNF/UDC president, Duma Boko to hand over a political diamond to the people of Tonota. “We have to present him to the constituents who voted for him in 2009 so that they can bear witness that indeed he has changed his political home to the BNF,” said Kgosikoma who stressed that Moatlhodi is a new BNF MP.
“Whether he is going to be the party candidate in the 2014 general elections or not is for the region and branch to decide. We have duly presented Moatlhodi at the party in-house meeting where he was accepted as a full member with all the rights a member can enjoy,” explained Kgosikoma.
He stated that in two weeks time, Boko is expected to address Tonota residents and present Moatlhodi to the people. Kgosikoma encouraged his party’s new catch to work cooperatively with the local committees.
“BNF’s main agenda is to develop the lives of underprivileged members of the society,” he said adding that Batswana are not given the right information as to how they can enjoy the riches of the country.
BMD/UDC MP for Francistown South, Wynter Mmolotsi condemned the BDP government for the incessant power blackouts and acute water shortages in the country. He pointed out that a lot of time is lost in bootlicking and sycophancy in BDP at the expense of service delivery. “Thapelo Olopeng (the BDP parliamentary candidate) is not fit as a parliamentary candidate,” he said to thunderous applause and whistling from the rally. He said those who were still following the BDP in Tonota are out of sync with the latest developments. “Olopeng has spent his entire life as a batman to President Ian Khama, from the army to the BDP and he has joined politics not to serve the people but to serve the interests of Khama,” said Mmolotsi.