Moatlhodi, Bontshetse impasse ensues
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Tuesday June 3, 2014 17:10
The resolution was made during a meeting on Sunday called to discuss the impasse between the Member of Parliament Pono Moatlhodi and Maokaneng Bontshetse.
Prior to Moatlhodi’s defection from the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) to the BNF two months back, Bontshetse was the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) parliamentary candidate in the general elections. The BNF is an affiliate of the UDC together with the Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) and Botswana Peoples Party (BPP).
Those who were present said some branch committee members and some of Bontshetse’s supporters did not attend. This is because they feel that Moatlhodi is being imposed on them. The branch committee vice chairman Charles Obotseng said he learnt of the meeting on Friday night.
“I do not know whether the meeting was a success or not. The agenda was to discuss about unresolved parliamentary candidate matter but I did not go because the meeting was not called formally,” said Obotseng.
Bontshetse’s campaign manager Baitshephile Ratshima, however, said the Sunday meeting resolved that constituency conference be called after the UDC manifesto launch to decide on the matter.
“Although I was not invited to the meeting, I found that being discussed. We also want the issue to be laid to rest. The manifesto will be launched this week and we want the conference to be held on June 14. This impasse is delaying
our campaigns,” Ratshima said.
BNF spokesperson Moeti Mohwasa, however, pleaded ignorance to the meeting. He however told Mmegi that they the leadership was in possession of the report from the Tonota constituency that they are still looking at. “There is a committee that we delegated to look into that report from the constituency,” he said.