Goya Shrugs Off Khama Threat
Koketso Kgoboge | Monday September 2, 2019 13:15
Goya was speaking at his launch here Saturday. Former vice president and minister, Ponatshego Kedikilwe, launched him.
Goya broke a deafening silence after reports linking him to Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) surfaced a while back when the BDP breakaway party was in its formation stages.
He was identified as one of the BDP parliamentary members who were close allies to Bangwato Kgosi Khama.
The incumbent MP for Palapye spoke without mincing his words that he was a BDP diehard and would not trade the ruling party for any other, including the BPF.
“Gona le bangwe ba ba akanyang gore nkabo ke kile ka sala Kgosikgolo ya lona morago, lona ba lo akanyang jalo morena a le etlele.
Nna ke moDomkrag wa motia,” Goya reaffirmed his allegiance when addressing his launch at Matswereng Freedom Square.
His statement, made in front of Tshekedi Khama at the launch, came as a direct response to (Ian) Khama’s charges made at a BPF rally held at the exact location some time back.
The BPF rally was held on the day of its recent mother of all congresses that attracted a massive crowd. Ian Khama then implored the BPF masses to warn Goya that he would not be retained as Palapye MP if he chose to remain with the BDP.
The BPF patron also asserted that he had no qualms with the incumbent Palapye MP, save for the fact that he (Khama) subscribed to opposite political affiliation.
“Ga kena mathata le Goya, ke motho o o siameng. Mathata hela ke gore o mo partying e e sa siamang jaanong le mmolelele gore ga re ka ke ra mo thopha,” said Khama at the time.
Goya found himself a matured politician after two terms as parliamentary representative for Palapye. He reckons he needed another term to continue with the developments of the village he envisages as future industrial city.
Although he warned his constituents to respect opposition members, he did not shy away from pouring scorn on his contenders. He said they possessed inadequate expertise to match the needs of the developing village.
“These rapid transformations need an experienced individual, not learners.
Some of them failed to deliver as councillors and what would we expect from them at parliamentary level?” he quipped.
The battle for the constituency is intense. Alliance for Progressives has fielded outspoken Gape Motswaledi, the brother to the late Gomolemo Motswaledi who has clearly made strides in the village.
Oneetse Ramogapi represents Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC). Ramogapi might benefit from the BPF if it does not field a candidate in the constituency. BPF declared it would back the UDC where it does not contest.
Goya’s predecessor in the constituency Boyce Sebetlela who spoke at the launch rubbished the UDC mandate of creating 100, 000 jobs in 12 months if it won the general elections.
He argued that with the budget to be approved in April next year and tendering stages lasting at least five months it was impossible for any party to create 100, 000 jobs in the first year after ascending to power.
“Batswana stop being lied to. Those are farfetched dreams.
It is impossible to make 100, 000 jobs in 12 months,” the former Minister for Science and Technology said after he praised Goya for the developments he said are transforming the economy of the village.
For his part, Kedikilwe cautioned party members to be tolerant and diplomatic in an era where politics has become dirty and provocative. He pointed out that the next general elections threaten the peace that reined in the republic.
“Our nation is troubled. We must take lessons from refugees that descended our country to seek political asylum.
If we are not careful we might find ourselves tracking similar paths. Let peace reign in the nation,” the former vice president said.