Can Rammidi convince BCP on home soil?
Staff Writer | Friday July 17, 2015 18:03
Now with the Botswana Congress Party (BCP), he stated then that the BDP was “run on the basis of the leader’s opinion” and that other members of the party were rendered irrelevant. Rammidi had earlier resigned his position of assistant minister of Local Government, as it was then called.
He temporarily declared himself an independent MP before joining the Botswana National Front (BNF) on transit to BCP within a space of six months.
His journey forced one Arafat Khan to write in one of the newspapers: “The MP for Kanye North, Kentse Nchi Rammidi, must be a troubled man. MPs who join BCP from the BNF are all trend-setters and history makers.
“He has made history by being the first MP in Botswana parliament to have defected to two political parties within six months,” wrote Khan in 2012.
Khan was the secretary general of the Botswana National Front Youth League, and is now councillor for Borakalalo Ward (Molepolole) under the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC).
But Rammidi’s journey continues this weekend as he hosts his party in his home village of Kanye, the place where he was born and bred.
This is the capital of Bangwaketse where Rammidi was the Southern District Council chairperson, a district that has had a history of belonging to the opposition BNF. Rammidi beat Calvin ‘Square’ Batsile of the BNF to go to Parliament, and subsequently got a cabinet position.
This week, Rammidi, in different media interviews, stirred a hornet’s nest when he said the BCP should join the UDC, or he would leave and refuse nomination to the position he is contesting, of secretary general.
As an alternative, Rammidi said the BCP should find a model that will make it possible for it to work with the UDC to unseat the BDP. These are the words that some members of the BCP are not keen to hear, at least not in the next two years or so.
Rammidi is contesting the SG position in his new party, six years after winning the same position in the BDP. He was the first assistant minister to hop between three parties in less than six months, and his moves did not impress the majority of Kanye North voters in 2014.
As a result he lost to an unknown Patrick Ralotsia of the BDP who garnered 5,726 votes to Rammidi’s 4,030. Kwenantle Gaseitsiwe of the UDC came second with 5,654 votes. His testing of the BCP presence in a BNF stronghold did not pay off, and does not seem to be heading that direction anytime soon.
Highlights
Dums vs Duna
It takes a man with nerves of steel like Tebogo Duna to challenge Saleshando who seems to wield so much influence in the party. To some members, Saleshando is an untouchable figure to whom they refer to as ‘Lord Dums’.
Lord Dums will definitely face no hurdles in trumping Duna, but the message will reach him that “Not all of us are content with your leadership”.
Gobotswang vs Lucas
The duo could be part of the 11th parliament had opposition parties come together for the 2014 general elections. Most probably, they would be holding cabinet positions since they were in the shadow cabinet of their party.
Top issues
* Party working with the Umbrella for Democratic Change
* Financial state of the party and its recent decision to close some offices across the country
* Report of the October 2014 general elections
A trained civil engineer, and shrewd politician in his mid forties, all the three main political parties need his experience.
But can the UDC or BDP accept him back into their fold if he fails to accomplish his dreams of seeing a united opposition in Botswana? Political wounds take long to heal, but there are no permanent enemies, nor are there permanent friends in politics.
It is only in the minds of ‘young and restless’ BCP YL leaders who think that the UDC and BCP should never make efforts to find a middle ground and work together.
Perhaps Rammidi will remind party bigwigs such as the contenders for the vice presidency, Kesitegile Gobotswang and Taolo Lucas that they could have been MPs for Sefhare/Ramokgonami and Bobirwa respectively. He could also remind the party supporters that some of them could be Specially Elected MPs, only if the BCP had joined opposition unity. The BCP will have to think hard about opposition unity, or lose Rammidi who will definitely find another home. All evidence shows that home will not be UDC where the likes of Khan are still itching for a take on him.
If Rammidi does not win, taking full advantage this time of the homeground, then he will never win anything. Khan will revisit his writing and read loud this part:
“It would appear that Rammidi dissents leadership. I now realise that, unlike comrades who formed BMD, his issues with Khama were not genuine but had to do with his general attitude towards people who are in position of authority.
“He must learn to subject himself to the wishes of the majority and accept that other people are given the mandate to lead and lead they should!
“I cannot understand Rammidi’s beef with the BNF and its leader. What he must know is that it is his credibility that is at stake. I always insist that people like him are power mongers and that is why his move is associated with Gaborone South.
“Is it not possible for Rammidi to join BCP without any assurance of a position of leadership? The move is not principled. I know I expect a lot from a man who does not understand what a principle is”.
“Finally, Rammidi must not behave like a street girl who washes the linen of her former boyfriend in public, more especially that he never knew this girl. I pity the residents of Kanye North. They wasted their votes but they must not despair because God has a way of doing things.” These are the writings of the BNF youth leader at the time.
Who is challenging who?
President: Dumelang Saleshando VS Tebogo Duna
Vice President: Kesitegile Gobotswang VS Taolo Lucas
Chairman: Matsei Rapelana VS Phillip Bulawa
Secretary General: Rammidi VS Phillip Monowe
Publicity and Information: Dithapelo Keorapetse VS Ditiro Majadibodu
Why Rammidi is for cooperation
2009 general electionsn Kanye north: Kentse Rammidi (BDP) 7, 004 Calvin Batsile (BNF) 5, 601 Keorapetse Mokopakgosi (BCP) 309
2014 general elections: Patrick Ralotsia (BDP) 5, 726 Kwenantle Gasetsiwe (UDC) 5, 654 Kentse Rammidi 4, 030
Sefhare/Ramokgonami: Kesitegile Gobotswang (BCP) 5,907 Dorcas Makgatho (BDP) 7, 459
Bobonong: Shaw Kgathi (BDP) 7, 350 Taolo Lucas (BCP) 7, 230 Kaugelo Machete (UDC) 162