Pheto joins BMD
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Tuesday March 3, 2015 11:04
While it had long been speculated that the veteran democrat would join the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), it was not clear which party within the opposition bloc, he would move to.
Pheto confirmed his latest move yesterday.
“Of course, we had agreed to join the UDC and I will also be there at a welcome rally on Saturday. Even our followers are part of the UDC. I knew that some of my colleagues would be welcomed at a BNF press conference,” Pheto said.
That conference was held yesterday in Gaborone, where the BNF welcomed former independent candidates who were part of Pheto’s team during campaigning.
Pheto left the BDP last April after unsuccessfully challenging his loss to Vincent Seretse in the ruling party primary elections for Mmopane/Lentsweletau. BDP had called Pheto to serve him with a 60-day suspension pending a disciplinary hearing in connection with the complaints over the primary elections. However, as soon as he accepted the suspension letter, he also handed in his resignation.
The BDP wanted to suspend Pheto citing strong evidence implicating him in ‘serious misconduct and subversive activities involving distribution and dissemination of materials’. The charges were due to Pheto’s decision to stand as an independent, following his loss to Seretse.
“In doing so, you will be standing against a duly elected BDP parliamentary candidate, and consequently, this is calculated at undermining and working against the interest of the party, in violation of your fundamental duties and responsibilities as a member of the BDP under the party constitution,” party president, Ian Khama wrote on April 9, 2014.
UDC president Duma Boko yesterday told the new members that it did not matter which specific party they would join under UDC, as long as they were united in taking over government. “We need numbers to win the constituencies. But we can only do that if we have committed members who are willing to work hard for the party. This is everyone’s project and we have to build it (because) 2019 is not far,” he said. Boko also said Botswana faced a lot of challenges and needed members who could make bold decisions.
One member who was welcomed yesterday, Tebogo Lenao of Gakutlo ward, said he would bring along 517 members to join the BNF. Lenao was among three BDP councillors who quit together with Pheto, and stood as independent candidates, last year.
“Those members will be there at the Saturday rally. If you recall events well, we did not resign from BDP alone, we had followers. We are joining the BNF with them,” he said. Another former councillor, Peter Lechiile of Lentsweletau West ward said he had registered 95 people to join the BNF, while Sehubakgosi Tsekele of Mahetwe ward said he would bring 105 new members.