Olopeng dismisses Moatlhodi as a �crybaby�
Pini Bothoko | Tuesday July 29, 2014 13:08
At a BDP rally held at Semotswane village on Saturday afternoon, Olopeng said that electorates of Tonota Constituency voted him looking at his capabilities and he promised to represent them well in parliament once he is elected in the coming general elections.
Olopeng went on to dismiss Moatlhodi as a crybaby saying instead of allegations levelled against him by Moatlhodi that he cheated in last year's primary elections, he said voters saw in him the right person to send to parliament.
'I want to thank you today for your faith in me by voting me with high numbers in last year's primary elections. I plead with you to go and make sure I win with shocking numbers in the coming general elections. I will make sure I deliver to my best because you voted for me with a reason, ' he said.
He said that since last year there have been issues surrounding his victory on the front pages of newspapers accusing him of cheating. “My name has been in the news headlines with Moatlhodi accusing me of cheating him. I know that you are the ones who voted for me and the reason why today I am your candidate. I am not a cheater like Moatlhodi says, ' he said.
Olopeng went on to say that Moatlhodi accused him of hiring buses to transport voters from as far away as Maun, Gaborone, and Gantsi to vote for him.
'I only know of four buses that I hired from Gaborone to Tonota that transported your children to vote for me as they had registered here. I proved that before the BDP leadership by producing receipts of payments I made, not 10 buses as Moatlhodi claimed, ' said Olopeng.
He went on to say that he listened to their requests and transported all the people who registered to vote in Tonota, even though he said he was not sure that they would vote for him or Moatlhodi. 'I did not get angry or reply to these accusations because I am a Christian and I know that my achievements are God's will. Today I just decided to openly tell you that I have been accused and proclaimed a cheater whilst you are the ones who voted me, ' said Olopeng.
He went on to call on party members to be prepared to vote and make sure they all vote for BDP because they have a good plan for them.'My wish is to see BDP winning all of the wards that are currently under the opposition in this constituency. We are the ones who understand your needs and if I can be voted for, I will make sure that all your needs and complaints are met, ' he said.
Meanwhile the deputy mayor for Sowa Town Council Baemedi Medupi who is also a BDP council candidate for Tonota South East ward, reminded electorates that Moatlhodi was no longer with the BDP and that they should stop supporting him as he belongs to an opposition party.
He encouraged his listeners to vote only for BDP candidates.
Olopeng will be up against either Moatlhodi or Maokaneng Bontshetse of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) and Themba Joina who will be contesting under the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) ticket in the coming general elections, expected to be held in October, though the date still remains President Ian Khama's secret.