Morwaeng, DK ruction may hurt BDP
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Friday September 27, 2019 12:17
The constituency has been a BDP stronghold for years; precisely since independence and the party only lost to the opposition in 2014. In 2014, Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) candidate, Tlamelo Mmatli got 5, 967 votes, ousting longtime BDP Member of Parilament, Daniel Kwelagobe who trailed with 5, 580 votes.
Kwelagobe’s supporters and some who lost in recent Bulela Ditswe are said to be still angry with the party for their leader’s loss. From 2014, there have been tensions amongst some members accusing each other of conniving with the opposition, especially UDC.
Another matter that had made the ruling party to suffer was its split, which and resulted in the formation of Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD).
“For Morwaeng to win, he has to work together with some members who were aligned to Kwelagobe team in 2014 and those who did not support him during party primary elections in 2018.
The constituency is not a given as many may think.
The only difference now is that some party members have preferred to keep quiet than speaking out.
There is division in the area though it is not so bad,” a source said.
The source said recently Morwaeng has been trying hard to reach out to some of council candidates who had won primary elections, but do not support him.
Another source said the reason why there is still tension between DK’s supporters and Morwaeng is because the aspiring candidate has approached DK to try to make peace but the latter is reluctant to reconcile with him.
For his part, Morwaeng said; “there are no divisions in our area and we are doing pretty well.
I am cooperating with all my council candidates and other party structures because our aim is to bring back the constituency to BDP. DK is my father and I have invited him to my launch on Saturday.
He might not come because he has not been well but we are in good terms. We do not have a problem at all”.
However Kwelagobe said: “I do not want to discuss issues of Molepolole South because I have been sick.
Morwaeng’s campaign manager, who is also his wife (Morwaeng’s), has invited me and my wife to the launch. I have given her our response. It will depend on whether I am well or not.
Regarding other issues I prefer not to discuss. I do not want to be blamed by anyone. I wish those who are contesting all the best”.
He said he has been away from the constituency for long and therefore he would not know if there is peace or not in the area.