BDP strategist warns against complacency
Onalenna Kelebeile | Tuesday September 9, 2014 11:13
Speaking at a star rally in Sefhophe, Mmadinare constituency, Seametso blamed members for the party’s loss in past council elections in the area. “If you are not careful, it will be too late. Do away with selfishness and self- centredness and stop voting for independent candidates. You are the ones breeding mekoko,” he said.
He accused the media of tarnishing President Ian Khama’s image by allowing themselves to be used by opposition politicians. The opposition has grabbed two wards from the BDP in the constituency in recent years. Previously, Mmadinare was a safe and solid BDP stronghold but this notion was debunked when Botswana Congress Party (BCP) won Sefhophe ward while BDP councillor for Mogapi crossed over with the seat to the Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD).
Mmadinare BDP branch chairman, Moseki Moseki said though the constituency is a BDP stronghold BCP and Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) have made inroads. He said the ruling party won Tobane/Tshokwe ward with a very slim margin and warned members to be vigilant because the seat may go. “Many people have not accepted primary elections results and we still need Bulela Ditswe losers to
come back and work for the party,” he said.
Parliamentary candidate for Tswapong South, Dorcus Makgato-Malesu said time has come for people to know that the BDP comes first and primary election issues should be forgotten. “This period calls for seriousness and individual issues must be set aside,” she said.
President Ian Khama said the ruling party members must correct they mistake they committed in 2009 by letting Sefhophe ward slip into
‘darkness’. He said they received 60 new members from BCP in Bobirwa
and more continue to ditch the opposition to join the ruling party across the country. He said that they are yet to see opposition parties receiving members from the BDP. He wondered why BCP is saying it is ready to lead. “It did not say that in 2009, what has changed
to make them think they can take power. It is funny that they think they can win with only seven MPs from 57 constituencies. About two of their MPs are our members which means they have only five MPs,” Khama said. He told the BCP to change their slogan of ‘Ready to Lead’ to say ‘We are ready to lead nowhere’. He said BDP was barred from contesting Francistown West constituency by-election and abided by the decision because the party does not want bloodshed. He assured party members that they will win Francistown West in next month’s general elections. He said if the opposition was locked out of the Francistown West by-election, there could have been strikes and accusations that the ruling party is bad. “We are leading in Botswana and Africa as BDP,” he said.