�Save The BMD� faction takes centre stage
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Friday April 22, 2016 10:41
The concerned party members feel that their party’s instability has been caused by the fact that some of their party structures have been neglected. Last Sunday some BMD members exchanged blows at Tsogang Primary School during their meeting.
“The truth is that the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) has managed to penetrate and get information from some of our key members. In politics, if a party can recruit some of your key members in the structures and use money to get information then know that your party is under attack. This calls for party members to come together as a way of defending the party from the enemies,” a source said.
The source revealed that the new group, ’Save the BMD’ is led by Pius Mokgware, Wynter Mmolotsi, Haskins Nkaigwa and Sedirwa Kgoroba amongst others. Kgoroba used to lead one group in the BMD called Operation Tsaya Puso (OTP) while Mmolotsi and Gilbert Mangole were said to be leading a group called Calm Voice.
The source revealed that lack of funds and proper management of party structures are factors that made BMD to be easily penetrated by other parties. “The BMD has 25 existing structures while some have collapsed but after its formation, the party could not reach or make 50 to 57 structures like other parties,” the source said. Another source said the other problem is that some members are busy recruiting Pilane to stand against the current party president, Ndaba Gaolathe.
“Pilane’s campaign is led by Nehemiah Modubule and Gilbert Mangole. This is one of the issues that are giving the party headache. Now some members are violating constitutional process to vote for members who could vote for Pilane if he stands for the presidency in 2017. This issue is likely to break up BMD if Pilane could win at the party elective congress,” the source said.
The source revealed that the reason why there are tensions at the Women’s League constituencies’ congress is that it is a legitimate test on who is going to win the party presidency in 2019.
BMD chairperson, Modubule said they are aware of the misunderstandings or tensions that are going on in the party. “BMD members need to accept that Pilane is a member in good standing. If he would really want to contest for presidency, it will be his right as a member. Why should people be scared when old party members come back into the party? I don’t understand why people say others were bought when our party is struggling even to make voters’ rolls,” Modubule said.
He said he does not understand why there are lot of differences in the party about this position. “People should differ on ideologies not about who should lead or done what?” Modubule however said him and Mangole are not aligned to any group but he is aware of the existing groups. The party chairperson said he is aware that some women’s league congresses were recently blocked from continuing with their congresses.
“Maybe people are accusing us for the Pilane issue because we stood for the truth and what the constitution says,” he said. Modubule said Pilane has a right to help party members when they need help because he is a member. Pilane once denied allegations that he intends to contest for the BMD presidency when asked by Mmegi and Modubule stressed it yesterday in an interview. The BDP secretary general Botsalo Ntuane said: “The money thing is now being abused. All these people levelling such allegations cannot show proof of any defector to the BDP having been paid anything. Is it not odd that when the opposition recruits from us we never accuse them of paying their new members?”
He said people must accept that in this country there is freedom of association and people are free to move between parties as they always do. “We are recruiting from all parties at every level,” Ntuane stressed.