DK surprise return to leadership
Onalenna Kelebeile | Monday July 6, 2015 17:21
Weeks prior to the Mmadinare elective congress, the party invited candidates wishing to contest for any position in the central committee to apply to the central committee. This was to give leadership a chance to vet candidates. But then on the last week, the leadership seemed to relent, and declared that floor nomination.
Kwelagobe, whose region, Molepolole south did not even have as a delegate to the Mmadinare congress, did not apply and canvass support before hand. But during the chairmanship polls in the marquee tent on Saturday, it became clear that the former BDP strongman might pull a surprise, as from nowhere his campaign team regrouped and started mobilising support to enter Kwelagobe’s name in the race. This sudden move attracted excitement, especially since his home base had his nemesis Shima Monageng as their man for the additional member nomination. The tables turned on Monageng, while the veteran proved his staying power.
Not only did Kwelagobe make the surprise return to the central committee, he pulled 232 votes to lead the additional members’ team of MPs Botlogile Tshireletso, Fidelis Molao, Unity Dow and Nonofo Molefhi. Kwelagobe had earlier told The Monitor that he would be available to stand if his name was called from the floor. On why he did not submit an application to contest the race, Kwelagobe explained that, “I know the party constitution and there is nowhere it says I should write a letter to contest for a position. If I am nominated I will contest,” he said.
He added that his interest in the central committee was as an additional member.
One of his campaigners explained that they were more than willing to have Kwelagobe in the party’s highest committee. “It is somebody who can advise the central committee and we have an overwhelming support on this one,” he added.
The party’s outgoing secretary general Mpho Balopi explained that the central committee has powers to see how best party activities can be done without compromising certain issues.
“He did not tender an application but we cannot stop him. The issue of applications was purely conceived to help the vetting process and to address them on time before the national congress,” he added. Balopi also said that the constitution does not say that one should be nominated from the floor but should be seconded from the floor. “But then the question becomes when do you address the issue of vetting. The central committee has the duty to ensure that vetting is done without any malice,” he added.
He added that all contestants submitted their applications and were thoroughly checked and said the system helped ensure that candidates were in good standing and had no criminal records that would be of embarrassment to the party.
Meanwhile efforts by the former chairmanship candidate Seteng Motalaote to enter the race got thwarted when he could not be nominated reducing the number of contestants to five. Though the argument arose that nobody nominated him others argue that delegates from Goodhope/Mabule had made an attempt to nominate him but were overlooked. One of his supporters said the nominations were closed while they still had their board raised.
Motalaote decline to comment save to say that it may have been a plot to get him out of the race. He added that he tried to take it up with the electoral board but was told that nominations have already been closed.