Opposition parties court Katse?

Correspondent | Thursday June 5, 2014 09:11

Katse

The suspended councillors are Amantle Matlapeng, Tidimalo Matlhotse and Stella Matlapeng.

Yesterday, sources within the ruling party said it was known that suitors from the opposition parties had approached Katse, galvanised by the troubles the politician has been facing in the constituency lately.

The suspended councillors are Amantle Matlapeng, Tidimalo Matlhotse and Stella Matlapeng.Yesterday, sources within the ruling party said it was known that suitors from the opposition parties had approached Katse, galvanised by the troubles the politician has been facing in the constituency lately.

Katse’s position as the BDP candidate for Tlokweng has been in jeopardy for months, since the party reportedly began investigating claims that he had rigged the elections in which he beat the incumbent MP, Olebile Gaborone.On Tuesday afternoon, the party’s central committee is understood to have suspended Katse and the three council candidates, effectively removing him as its representative for the constituency in the general elections.In the 2009 elections, incumbent MP, Gaborone, who was then a member of the Botswana National Front, garnered 3,824 votes, followed by Katse under the BDP with 3,807 and the BCP’s Reverend Zacharia was last with 1,475.Sources said the 2009 figures had emboldened opposition suitors eager to tap into Katse’s established support.

“If indeed Katse has been recalled by BDP, then he is likely going to join another opposition party,” ruling party sources said.

“Of late, some members of different opposition parties had been meeting with him to lure him to join their parties.”Prior to his suspension, Katse was due to clash against Same Bathobakae of the Umbrella for Democratic Change and Reverend Jacob Zacharia of the Botswana Congress Party in the October general elections.Yesterday Katse declined to comment on the latest developments, saying he was awaiting formal notification (of his suspension) from the BDP.

“I still treat the issue as a rumour because the party office has not served us with any letter,” Katse said.BDP executive secretary, Sechele Sechele said the party would either be calling a press conference or issuing a statement any time today (Thursday).

Katse and the three council candidates recently wrote to BDP secretary general, Mpho Balopi, demanding that they be given evidence to defend themselves in the vote rigging case when they appear before the disciplinary hearing.

According to a letter in Mmegi’s possession, Katse felt the report from the investigation team was inadequate and wanted statements from his accusers.