It�s now seven for the BDP chairmanship
Boniface Keakabetse | Thursday February 19, 2015 10:33
Diile told Mmegi that he is ready to take on other candidates - Tebelelo Seretse, Mokgweetsi Masisi, Tshekedi Khama, Biggie Butale, Ramadeluka Seretse and Dithapelo Tshotlego.
Diile’s motivation for entering the highly contested number two position is to return the BDP back to its glory days.
“We cannot allow same people over time to run the party. It is high time the party leadership moves from Serowe,” he said.
Diile said he will soon be starting his national campaign for the position. “I will soon be off to Gantsi, Molepolole and Kasane to campaign. I am sure I will win,” he said.
He said he has the support of the North West BDP regional committee. The region comprises of Chobe, Okavango and Maun constituencies.
However, regional committee chairperson Baphuthulodi Kgari distanced his region from Diile. Responding to a question during a recent press conference at Maun Lodge, Kgari said the region has not taken a decision as to whom it will endorse amongst all the people touted for the BDP chairmanship.
“Diile has not duly informed us that he is contesting for the position. I am also not in a position to reveal if we will support him or not should he stand as you claim,” Kgari said.
Diile, generally considered a troublemaker within the BDP in the region stood as an independent candidate in the 2009 general election after losing to Jacob Nkate in the primaries.
Nkate subsequently lost the constituency to Taolo Habano of the Botswana Congress Party (BCP).
Before standing against Nkate he had served as his campaign manager, only to turn against him at the last minute. “My motivation to stand against Nkate was the same as my resolution for the party chairmanship,” he said. In 2013, Diile contested the BDP primary elections for the Makalamabedi council ward in the Maun East constituency and lost to Moetetsi Mogalakwe.
Mogalakwe lost in the general election amid talk that Diile de-campaigned him, something the latter denied.
Diile is confident of a win, saying he has the support of some party elders whom he claimed are against the current crop of party leaders they believe to be responsible for the BDP’s decline.
“Once I am voted, I will make sure that party veterans like Daniel Kwelagobe and Gaerolwe Kwerepe, amongst others, have a role to play in running the party not like now when decisions are made by a few.”