BDP organ to seek reprieve for Moswaane
Chakalisa Dube | Friday August 23, 2019 14:04
Moswaane’s future as BDP candidate in the 2019 general elections hangs in the balance following tension between him and the party.
Developments in the constituency have reached a point where indications are that he may be suspended from the party. Should he be suspended, he will lose his eligibility to contest the elections.
Moswaane’s troubles with the BDP came days after he labelled the controversial P900 million Masama Water tender project fraudulent during a radio interview.
As a result of his remark, the party has made it clear that it intends to take action against him, which is why some have speculated that he might be suspended from the BDP. Some key BDP members reportedly wanted the Masama tender to be approved by parliament, but it was turned down.
Yesterday, Mmegi established that the Francistown region leadership has since resolved that it should meet Masisi to seek clarity on what the party intends to do with Moswaane.
Masisi will be in Tonota on Sunday to launch Thapelo Olopeng who is the parliamentary candidate for Tonota at the 2019 general election.
Tonota falls within the BDP Francistown region.
“Prior to the launch in Tonota, the regional leadership will brief Masisi about the status of the region. The regional leadership intends to use the meeting to discuss the latest developments in Francistown West, most notably the suspension of Moswaane’s launch and his future in the party. That will be the main priority during our interactions with the President,” one key member who also sits in the Francistown region executive said yesterday.
“We intend to convince the party not to take stern action against Moswaane. We need him to win in order to retain the constituency,” the source added.
There are also fears that should the party suspend Moswaane, he may opt to go independent, a move that might cost the party the constituency. Moswaane is said to be readying himself to contest as an independent. That is in the event he is suspended by the BDP.
The region is also reportedly deeply worried that it was not engaged thoroughly before Moswaane’s launch was suspended last weekend, days after he publicly shared his position on the Masama water tender project.
Yesterday BDP Francistown region chairperson, Baemedi Medupi confirmed that the regional leadership would have a meeting with Masisi prior to the launch.
“It is a norm that when the President is officiating at a political activity in the region he meets the regional leadership prior or after his assignment. Such meetings are usually used to brief the President about the status of the region, amongst others.”
He however, said that he could not share the exact agenda of the weekend meeting for confidentiality reasons.
Moswaane is said to be very troubled by the prospects of being suspended from the party. He has openly said that he does not want to contest as an independent or under any opposition party.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday BDP members in Francistown West resolved that they should send a delegation to meet the BDP leadership in a bid to convince the party to temporarily halt taking action against Moswaane.