Bogus petition Cllr reported to Masisi
Chakalisa Dube | Thursday August 11, 2016 15:38
Masisi, who is also the country’s Vice President, will be officiating at the Francistown region fund raising dinner at Tati River Lodge the same day. But prior to that he will be engaged in a closed door meeting with leaders from various structures in the region.
Tuelo is said to be campaigning for the party parliamentary primaries in the Francistown South constituency though the party is yet to sanction campaigns for the primaries billed for next year.
More than a month ago Francistown South members registered their complaint to President Ian Khama who ordered that the region urgently investigate the matter and take action.
Days after the Phillip Matante East by-election Tuelo relocated to Francistown South to set up an office, which he said, was meant to assist youth access government projects.
The office is run under the name of the Monarch Community Development Centre (MCDC).
The MCDC was behind the bogus petition, which resulted in the postponement of the Francistown West by-election in 2013.
However, some BDP functionaries in the region believe that through the office Tuelo is campaigning under the guise that he is helping the youth access government initiatives.
Although BDP Francistown region chairman Sabelo Matikiti has labelled the meeting with Masisi a lighthearted encounter, insiders are adamant that a few sensitive issues will crop up at the meeting especially the reported illegal campaigning by Tuelo.
“It is customary that when a party leader is in the region he meets structural leaders. The meeting is just a meet and greet session nothing sensitive about the party activities is discussed,” Matikiti said yesterday through telephone.
Mmegi however has leant that members of the party in the constituency are seeking the president’s intervention, as they believe that failure by the region to act timely may give Tuelo an advantage at the primaries.
Some of the aggrieved members feel that the region has taken too long to address their concerns pertaining to Tuelo’s campaigns.
But Matikiti insisted that the region is currently dealing with the Tuelo issue.
“Some party members have complained to us that Tuelo is campaigning through MCDC. We are investigating and the issue will soon be put to rest,” said Matikiti.
The Francistown South branch secretary Modiri Lucas would not confirm or deny that they will register their complaints regarding Tuelo to Masisi over the weekend.
“BDP Francistown South members have raised concerns about Tuelo’s presence in the constituency but we referred the matter to the region. I am however not at liberty to say much on the subject,” Lucas said yesterday.