BDP unleashes its might in Tonota
Ryder Gabathuse | Wednesday April 30, 2014 11:16
The BDP had unleashed its might on the village at a rally where its leadership had come in numbers to launch parliamentary candidate, Thapelo Olopeng and nine council candidates.
Unfortunately, the weekend turnout never allowed observers to gauge the local strength of the BDP as party diehards came from across the 57 constituencies. Two huge marquee tents experienced an overflow of party dignitaries and ordinary party members.
Outside the marquees, the enthusiastic crowd pushed and shoved for space to get a glimpse of the speakers. Food was also galore with the crowd enjoying a feast from the eight cattle slaughtered to feed them.
Olopeng’s campaign T-shirts were also in abundant supply. In an attempt to set a positive tone for their campaigns, the BDP did not disappoint, as they were able to wow the crowd since Pono Moatlhodi defected to the opposition, Botswana National Front (BNF).
All the speakers could not avoid talking about the departure of Moatlhodi as each bashed him for his decision to leave the party after he lost the primaries. Even Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Botlogile Tshireletso MP for Mahalapye-East asked the crowd in vernacular: “Ba kae bo-Tate? (Where is Moatlhodi)”, leaving the rally in stitches.
She noted that she, Finance Minister Kenneth Matambo, and acting Minister of Presidential Affairs and Public Administration Shaw Kgathi who attended the weekend rally were not bootlickers or sycophants as some people portray them. “The mere fact that we don’t have the guts to shout at our President qualifies us as bootlickers from some quarters. How can you expect to be with a leader that you don’t respect?” she wondered.
She described Khama as a President with a good ear, saying that in the past she was amongst people who approached Khama to plead with him to empower women. She said that she was able to appoint Dr Margaret Nasha as the National Assembly Speaker and posted Gladys Kokorwe as Botswana’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe. She rubbished reports made, amongst others, by Moatlhodi and Pheto upon their resignation from the party that Khama was a dictator who was not willing to listen to people’s views.
Matambo described the launch as a great day in the history of Tonota village. He said Botswana enjoyed peace in the region because of the able leadership of the BDP.
“Ignore opposition parties because the best they can do is to oppose the BDP without providing any alternative,” he noted.
He described Olopeng as a capable leader who has not joined the BDP for his personal benefits but to represent the people.
“Fa ene ele go re o batla go ja o ka bo a nna fela mo Tonota a aja. (If it was about him wanting to eat, he would rather be in Tonota and enjoy himself. Now, it’s about him representing you),” he said. When he was finally ushered to the podium, Olopeng was received amid ululations, cat-whistles and a deafening noise from the party diehards.
He promised: “The constituency is in safe hands and there are no threats or whatsoever that it will slip to the opposition.”
He told dignitaries that included, Merafhe, Matambo, former high court judge, Unity Dow from Kgatleng, Central District Council (CDC) chairman, Lesego Raditanka, MP Mephato Reatile and others that the best is yet to come. “When the BDP’s canvassing commences, it will leave no stone unturned. I want to declare that Tonota remains under the category of safe constituencies,” he said adding that his team was going to wreak havoc and eliminate the opposition.