Moswaane escapes suspension
Lesedi Mkhutshwa | Friday September 6, 2019 12:32
The development comes after the legislator reportedly held a closed door meeting with President Mokgweetsi Masisi on Wednesday morning in Gaborone. Masisi is the president of the BDP. The meeting reportedly took place before Masisi departed for an official trip to South Africa.
Details of what really transpired at the meeting are sketchy but indications are that Masisi assured Moswaane that he would not be severely disciplined by the party as widely speculated. Masisi is also said to have reiterated that Moswaane will not be replaced as candidate for Francistown West at the 2019 general elections.
Additionally, it is reported that during the meeting Masisi expressed displeasure about Moswaane’s constant criticism of the party in various media platforms. On the other hand, Moswaane reportedly agreed that he would desist from criticising the party in the media.
“Some central committee members were also of the view that taking stern action against Moswaane might work against the party fortunes at the next general elections. That is why the President toned down on Moswaane,” another insider said.
Since last month, there have been insinuations that Moswaane might be called for a disciplinary hearing and subsequently be suspended from the party. The situation would have meant that Moswaane would not contest the 2019 general elections under the BDP ticket (in Francistown West).
Speculation over a pending disciplinary action against Moswaane came about after he publicly said that a controversy-ridden P900 million Masama-Mmamashia water tender initially awarded to Khato Civil before it was turned by Parliament, was fraudulent.
His remarks angered some senior BDP officials who wanted the House to okay the project, hence their view that disciplinary action be preferred against Moswaane.
According to sources, Moswaane’s launch has now been slated for September 14. He was initially supposed to be launched last month. The initial launch was however put to halt at the 11th hour following his statements about the Masama project.
Even the Minister of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services, Kefentse Mzwinila formally appealed to the party leadership to sternly discipline Moswaane over his remarks about the project. Mzwinila was amongst BDP members who wanted parliament to vote in favour of the project.
In response, Moswaane pleaded with Masisi to turn down Mzwinila’s appeal for disciplinary action against him as the move ‘might tarnish the image’ of the party.
In an interview with Mmegi yesterday, Moswaane confirmed that he met Masisi on Wednesday. However, he declined to discuss details of the meeting. “The agenda is something I cannot disclose for confidentiality reasons,” was all he could say.
For her part, Ame Makoba, the ruling party Executive Secretary said that he could not discuss internal party matters with the media.