Masisi seeks counsel from Molomo
Tefo Pheage | Thursday March 24, 2016 11:46
Masisi had arranged to meet the nine councillors, after his Economic Stimulus Package address to Kgatleng District full Council recently to renew his promises and relationship with them. Kgatleng constituencies are believed to have voted for Masisi during the Mmadinare congress.
In an interview, Molomo said it is not a secret that he endorses Masisi.
“Parliament even endorsed him, whom am I not to.
When Parliament endorses somebody, they are saying he is fit to be president because when the president dies or leaves for whatever reasons he takes over,” Molomo said.
He denied that he met councillors or attended the meeting in which Masisi met with the councillors. “I met Masisi alone. His secretary had requested me to host them for lunch and I agreed,” he said.
Masisi is facing tough competition from some notable members of the BDP who have confessed their interest in the party presidency.
Amongst these are Boyce Sebetela, the former Palapye MP who is now a section manager at Debswana, former MP Robert Masitara, Minister of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism, Tshekedi Khama and Nonofo Molefhi, Minister of Infrastructure, Science and Technology as well as Jacob Nkate, former minister and another former minister, MP and diplomat, Tebelelo Seretse.
Pundits say the high number of party presidency aspirants points to a lack of confidence not only on the party president, Ian Khama, but his chosen successor, Masisi, who is expected to take over the baton when Khama retires at the end of his last presidential term on account of the automatic succession constitutional provision.
Masisi is said to have used the meeting to thank the councillors for their support at the Mmadinare congress last year, where he received overwhelming support and urged them to work hard for the party.
Sources said he also used the opportunity to update them on the presidential race and pleaded with them to rally behind him in times of adversity if they are to see a better BDP.
BDP insiders say the councillors were asked to share the problematic issues in their wards and they were promised that these would be looked into.
The councillors further reiterated their support for Masisi and urged him to keep the fire burning. They further urged him to look into the issue of councillors’ salaries.
Masisi is said to be seeking not just counsel but support of the elders such as Molomo. Molomo once served as cabinet minister, Member of Parliament, permanent secretary, educational planner, college principal, researcher, university lecturer and author, among many other responsibilities.
He lost his parliamentary seat to the opposition in 1994 but would later return to Parliament in 1999, as Speaker of the National Assembly, a position he held until he retired in 2004.