BDP Francistown region to welcome seven mekoko
Pini Bothoko | Thursday January 7, 2016 14:53
The resolution was taken so that the party could welcome back former BDP members who left the party disillusioned and stood as independent candidates in 2014 general elections.
Yesterday, the BDP Francistown region’s branch secretary Raoboy Mpuang told Mmegi that they have received seven letters from individuals with interest of re-joining the party.
“Yes it’s true we have received letters from some people who volunteered to rejoin the BDP.
They (returnees) previously contested as independent candidates in the 2014 general elections. We have also received a letter from former council candidate for Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) for Monarch North Almando Gopolang, ” said Mpuang adding that they will officially welcome them into the party sometime this month or beginning of February.
Among the returnees, he said, was former independent parliamentary candidate for Francistown West Constituency Kago Phofuetsile who lost to Ignatius Moswaane in 2014 general elections.
Others are those who contested and lost the council seats.
“It should be remembered that these people were our members before and decided to come back home. All of them resigned from the party in 2013 after the party primary elections to contest the general elections,” said Mpuang.
He said they are waiting for the party structures to officiate their return and then the region would officially welcome them.
Mpuang said the returnees say they craved their former party.
“The people who had differences with the party explained to have decided to rejoin the party so that they can solve their differences accordingly,” said Mpuang.
He stated that the number might be more because they have not met and compiled the list of people interested in re-joining the party from other branches within the region.
“I have heard that there are some people who have shown interest in re-joining the party from other branches, but I cannot confirm that for now because my office has not received their letters yet,” said Mpuang, adding that they (BDP) have launched a massive recruitment drive.
“Our mandate is to recruit new members into the party and when people volunteer to join us like these ones, it’s a blessing to the party and this proves that BDP has potential to retain the seat in 2019,” said Mpuang.
Gopolang confirmed his intention to return to the BDP. He said he is returning to the ruling party because to him the BDP is the only party that he could join to exercise his love for politics.
Gopolang said that even electorates in his ward advised him to join the ruling party where he stands a better chance of winning if he can contest in the future.
“My family is also from the ruling party and ever since I joined politics in 2013 they pleaded with me to join the BDP where they can give me their support in future,” said Gopolang.