Khama re-launches Kwelagobe and GUS
Bame Piet | Friday October 3, 2014 10:31
In the state of panic, President Ian Khama yesterday took to Molepolole to re-launch the once unshakable candidates, Gaotlhaetse ‘GUS’ Matlhabaphiri and Daniel ‘DK’ Kwelagobe.
Kwelagobe, once the powerhouse of Botswana politics, was first launched by former presidents Sir Ketumile Masire and Festus Mogae on August 8. This was a few days after Mogae labelled his successor Ian Khama, a dictator.
Yesterday, Khama went to the country’s most populated village, combining a series of Kgotla meetings in the village’s major wards (Loologane, Lekgwapheng, Ntloolongwae and Bokaa) with a political rally at the stadium in the afternoon.
He was accompanied by Cabinet ministers, explaining what the government was doing to address problems faced by Molepolole electorate that range from water shortage, lack of developments, and unemployment. Also on board was the Council chairman Motlhophi Leo.
Mmegi attended the last Kgotla meeting at Bokaa Ward (Kgotla) where Leo accused some youth wearing UDC and BMD T-shirts of misbehaving. Apparently the opposition party youth had made it their mission to ‘escort’ Khama wherever he went.
“Rraetsho re lemoga gore go na le batho bangwe ba ba sa itsholeng sentle, mme re tla kgalema,” Leo said about UDC youth who were wearing their party colours at the meeting. The youth later joined a political rally, addressed by the same president and his delegation at Molepolole stadium. This is where Kwelagobe and Matlhabaphiri spoke about the government programmes and why Khama was launching them.
As the meeting progressed, it became obvious that the two men were in desperate need of the President’s presence than anything else.
This is because, according to sources inside the BDP, the UDC is posing a serious challenge in the Molepolole constituencies.
“In 2009, GUS beat Mohamed Khan with a margin of just 450 and ever since the formation of Botswana Movement for Democracy, scores of BDP members have left the party to join BMD and UDC. These include councillors, and even former BDP campaign leaders,” said the source.
So far, sources revealed that more than four councillors have left the BDP to join the opposition, and are now standing against their former party. “Others are not happy with the outcome of primary elections and have joined the opposition to punish their former party,” said another source.
She added that Khama was called in to appeal to angry voters to spare their votes for the party.
Indeed, Khama played the diplomat, declaring his love for Kwelagobe. “I hear that people say I do not like DK. That is not true. DK ke tsala yame, ke tswa kgakala le ene. O tswa kgakala a ntswenya. When you have differences, that does not mean you should stop working together,” said Khama. He then, as has become the norm, turned on the UDC accusing the party of emulating the South African Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) saying they lack botho (manners). He added that opposition parties are more concerned with insulting their opponents than debating issues of national interest.
While admitting that there was unhappiness with the outcome of the party primaries, Khama appealed to the losers to support the winners and wait for their turn to try again, which “is not far away, just four years away”.
It was announced that Khama would head to Thamaga next week where he will launch Tshenolo Mabeo once again.
Our sources say that there is unrest within the party as some voters in Thamaga are said to be “not so pleased” with their candidate claiming that Mabeo originates from Mankgodi village, which has since been moved to the new Gabane-Mankgodi. Apparently, some voters are of the view that Mabeo does not deserve their vote.
Mabeo’s greatest challenge is Kopano Rannatshe of the UDC who lost to Dr Reverent John Seakgosing with a small margin in 2009. Since it was established Thamaga has enjoyed the monopoly of having a MP who originated from the village – immediate examples being Gladys Kokorwe (two terms) and Seakgosing (one term).