UDC building thwarts BMD growth � Mangole

Leinanyana Tsiane | Thursday July 23, 2015 10:59

Speaking after giving the Mogoditshane MP, Sedirwa Kgoroba a thrashing of 321 to 112, the Mochudi West legislator said they had neglected building BMD structures, especially in rural areas, as focus had shifted to the umbrella.

He said his top priority for the next two years is to build BMD at all branch structures. “That is what I will be working on. The UDC formation stalled everything because we concentrated on it to gear ourselves for last year’s general elections,” he said.

Also on Mangole’s agenda is building a strong Women’s League, noting that the organ has not held a congress since the formation of the party five years ago.

“Women representation is of great concern to us and we really need women at the forefront in 2019,” he said.

The party’s worst enemy though, said Mangole, is lack of resources. He added that they have in the past asked the BMD members to contribute money for the party coffers but that did not materialise. Mangole implored party members to support the party financially and said they have been talking with some business people to assist in this regard.

Mangole said though there were traces of animosity among some of the youth, the party leadership has called them to order and driven sense into them that BMD should be a party of responsible people that can be entrusted to take power in 2019. “Besides all these, after the congress we want to emerge as one united party. The elections should not divide us. Those who have lost should work together with the victors.”

Meanwhile, after the announcement of the results for the position of chairperson there was tension after the losing candidate, Gabane/Mankgodi MP Pius Mokgware wanted the polling officers to explain why there were 11 ballots that were unaccounted. Apparently 472 people were registered to vote but when the ballots were counted they were 461 with 11 unaccounted for. Mokgware, who lost to former Lobatse MP, Nehemiah Modubule, said the polling officers should give a clear answer as to why the numbers do not tally.

“Is this what BMD wants? Is this the right process or what?” he wondered.

Mokgware said he did not want to simply accept that an occurrence like that happens in elections. One of the polling officers had explained that sometimes it happens that numbers may not tally.

Modubule accepted the results though he too was not happy about the explanation of the polling officers. Modubule noted that even if the 11 votes were to be given to Mokgware that would not make any difference, as he would still remain the winner.