How the BDP lost Phillip Matante East
Chakalisa Dube | Wednesday April 27, 2016 11:51
To start with, the party had a crowded race, as six people each wanted to be the candidate. Peter Nare emerged victorious, beating Bridget Masalila, Elizabeth Morebodi, Segametsi Sebenyane, Ditiro Morebodi and Olatotse Speakson. The primaries left some losers and their supporters bitter.
Although immediately after the primaries, it was public knowledge that the losers had accepted the results, some would later change heart and write to the party intimating that they had picked some irregularities from the primaries.
Although they questioned the results, the party never gave them a hearing because they (losing candidates) had accepted the outcome of the election by signing a memorandum of agreement which technically bound them.
Now, during the course of the by-election reports were abound that some of the losers had decided to sabotage the party by de-campaigning it at the final race. One of the losers was said to have been found with a list of about 200 people, presumed to be her supporters, whom she tried to sway to vote against the BDP.
Infact, a civic leader for Ipopeng ward, Jenamiso Mojaki, had been suspended from campaigning for the party because she was alleged to be de-campaigning it. Instead of working for her party, Mojaki is said to have beefed up support for the UDC and its ally the BCP. She has, however, denied the charge but was reluctant to comment when Mmegi asked her to. “I am not at liberty to comment on this matter,” was the curt response from Mojaki without advancing reasons.
Sources say during the campaign for Phillip Matante East ward, Mojaki received a letter suspending her from campaigning for the BDP. The letter was from the BDP member of the Central Committee responsible for the Francistown South constituency, Andy Boatile.
“We have received reliable information that some of our members campaigned for the opposition,” Modiri Lucas, the BDP Francistown South branch secretary said. “We have a branch meeting this week where we will discuss the subject. If indeed some of our members worked with the opposition we will take appropriate action as per advice from the Central Committee.”
The BDP by-election campaign manager, Samson Guma claimed ignorance of this development.
“At this stage we have to respect the will of the people as they have spoken,” he said.
Another factor that worked against the BDP was its campaign management. Guma worked with people outside the constituency, some of whom had been BCP functionaries such as Lotty Manyepedza, Ditiro Majadibodu, Thato Osupile, Seabelo Thekiso and Norbert Madatha.
Former UDC activists who were in the BDP campaign team included Omphile Mazebedi, Tapa Nyepi, Keitumetse Ntuluki and Pini Nyeku. This might have been a good strategy to destabilise the opposition but some BDP faithfuls felt ignored. Within the BDP, Guma’s team included Raoboy Mpuang from the Francistown region committee where he is the secretary but residing in the Francistown West constituency and Simon Mavange, BDP NYEC secretary residing in Masunga.
Concern was raised in the BDP that its six campaign bases were being manned by people recruited from the opposition. Worse still, there were reports that strategic information was leaked to the UDC. Wynter Mmolotsi, the UDC vice president, dismissed the BDP reports.
A BDP insider, who preferred anonymity, told Mmegi that it became evident last Friday before the by-election that some people on whom the BDP was banking on, were infact opposition members, as they were seen in the UDC motorcade – in opposition colours.
Another minus for the BDP was the fistfight between Francistown West MP, Ignatius Moswaane and the Francistown South branch chairman, Ford Moiteela. Opposition officials used the incident to score points against the ruling party, labelling it a “breeding ground for violence”.
During the campaign, it emerged that the BDP’s three factions aiming to control the Francistown South constituency come 2018, used the by-election to launch their campaigns. Guma campaigned for Mpuang, Moswaane for Zazambi Tuelo while Moiteela campaigned for a sport administrator-cum politician eyeing the BDP’s 2018 primaries.
All these factors combined against the BDP to make the battle for the Phillip Matante East a tough one.
The story emerging post-Phillip Matante East by-election is typical of the conduct of BDP faithfuls towards elections generally. Who to blame, Bulela Ditswe or individuals?
Even before the by-election, Moswaane had already raised a red flag, citing weaknesses in the BDP’s campaign strategy and even wrote to the BDP to explain why it would not win the by-election.