UDC at odds to explain Mathokgwane resignation
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Friday May 29, 2015 14:37
Briefing the media on the shocking departure of the most outspoken legislator, the UDC president and Leader of Opposition, Duma Boko could only give what was already public knowledge – Mathokgwane resigned on “personal” grounds.
He said Mathokgwane informed the leadership that his decision was personal and that the party was still in the dark on the MP’s reasons for the resignation.
“We cannot intrude unless he invites us,” said Boko.
Boko said Mathokgwane met him on Monday to appraise him of his intentions to resign as a member of parliament.
“We are pained, but not disheartened. We are pained to the core by this resignation.”
The UDC president, who is also the president of the Botswana National Front, which Mathokgwane has been a member for many years, said he tried to convince the Goodhope-Mabutsane MP to stay and counseled him. But after consulting his family, the firebrand politician was convinced that it was best he resigned.
Boko thanked Mathokgwane - who despite promises that he would attend the press briefing was not in attendance - for his work in the short period, seven months, in Parliament.
Boko also thanked the Goodhope-Mabule constituents for being exemplary to the nation by rejecting the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) in the last general elections.
He stated that they could refer back to the people of that constituency to reject mediocrity.
When questioned on allegations that Mathokgwane might have been forced to resign due to on-going criminal investigations, Boko denied any knowledge of such.
Since Mathokgwane’s sudden resignation on Wednesday, there had been circulating rumours that there were damning allegations of criminal conduct against him. There was talk of blackmail from opponents.
There was even talk that Mathokgwane had been offered a lucrative job, as deputy director, of a government project in Selibe-Phikwe.
No one in the party, or in the close circles of the politician were prepared to talk on these matters, continuously speaking of the Mothokgwane’s insistence that the decision was personal, and had nothing to do with the party.
When Mmegi took the UDC president aside, he insisted he counselled Mathokgwane around the issue of resignation, and not on legal or other matters.
He said he pleaded with Mathokgwane not to resign, but his colleague was resolute.
In the meantime, Mathokgwane was yesterday reported to be touring the constituency to bid them farewell.
For 15 years, Mathokgwane tried but failed to wrestle the constituency that is dominantly BDP.
He finally made it in the last general elections when he dethroned Minister Kitso Mokaila from the seat.
He had garnered 6, 712 votes against Mokaila’s 6, 101. The Botswana Congress Party trailed behind with a measly 717 votes.
Mokaila was appointed a specially elected MP after the elections.
What was not clear to many UDC activists who thronged the briefing was why would somebody who had been trying for many years to topple the mighty BDP, resign from the seat after being rewarded with representing the constituents in Parliament. Many were of the opinion that it was a principled stance Mathokgwane took if he felt that the ‘personal’ issue would tarnish the image of his political movement.