Masitara decries sabotage
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Friday October 10, 2014 16:54
Masitara is the only parliamentary candidate from the party who is yet to be launched. This has not gone well with some of his supporters who have decried that this is an orchestrated move to undermine his campaign.
“Other political parties have stepped up their campaigns. I do not understand why our launch was scheduled for the 18th while the President has addressed different star rallies and launching other candidates every week. You cannot change people’s mindset now,” said a disgruntled source.
Gaborone Bonnington North has never had peace after the party primary elections last November. The BDP spent a lot of time trying to resolve internal squabbles between Masitara and his councillors. He felt disgruntled that the branch committee had given his councillors the go ahead to launch while Tsholetsa House was stalling to schedule his unveiling.
The constituency branch chairman, Benjamin Gopolang, said although Masitara’s launch was delayed, it was a strategic move, as they wanted other parties to launch first.
“The problem was that the President also wanted to address the residents of this constituency. He wanted to plead with residents of this area to vote BDP. The launch will be held on the 18th. We tried to explain to our candidates that the President had a tight schedule,” he said.
Gopolang added that they had been carrying out house to house campaigns in the constituency. He further said there is cooperation between Masitara and his councillors.
He expressed confidence that Masitara would retain the constituency.
Efforts to speak to Masitara proved futile at the time of going to print.
When reached for comment BDP executive secretary, Sechele Sechele, said the party office does not organise parliamentary launches.
“The branch committees and candidates are responsible for launches. Our office only assists when the need arises,” he said.
Masitara is expected to battle it out with Umbrella for Democratic Change president Duma Boko and Anna Motlhagodi of the Botswana Congress Party.