Venson-Moitoi for BPF presidency
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Friday June 14, 2019 18:00
Venson-Moitoi challenged Masisi in the race for the nomination of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party’s (BDP) presidential candidate in the coming general elections expected in October.
It was monumental as it was a first in the history of the 57-year-old party for an incumbent President to have a face-off with someone for the party presidency. The BDP has ruled Botswana continuously since independence in 1966, but was formed in 1962.
Just a few hours before the intended historic poll, Venson-Moitoi withdrew from running.
“I withdraw from running because I will not promote a sham. That election has been rigged before it starts. Contesting will be legitimising a flawed process,” Venson-Moitoi said at the time.
Masisi was then endorsed as the party presidential candidate for the October general election. In his acceptance speech he said: “With the same spirit conveyed let me commend, congratulate, applaud the vibrant and gallant and spirited campaign Venson-Moitoi put into this. I encourage all of you to embrace the democratic practice of competition”.
Masisi also said he was going to call on Venson-Moitoi to join him in uniting the party. The two protagonists met a few days later but did not agree on anything. He promised that there will be another meeting, but to date nothing has materialised.
Reached for comment this week, Venson-Moitoi said the person who would know if the plan for uniting the party is still there or not might be the party chairperson, Slumber Tsogwane.
Speculation is, however rife that she will eventually join the newly registered Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) as Masisi is said to have developed cold feet in meeting her demands.
She is said to have, amongst other things, demanded that suspended party members be reinstated. “I am still waiting for Vice President Slumber Tsogwane on the issue of reconciliation and uniting the party. In our last meeting they said they would come back to me. I don’t know how long I will wait. People who are questioning whether I am with BPF or not should know that I am still a democrat,” Venson-Moitoi said. “What I can tell you is that I am still waiting for them to come and tell me their plan and it has been months without any progress.”
Mmegi is informed that the BDP leadership did not see the importance of trying to reconcile with Venson-Moitoi because she had her own demands that they could not meet.
It is understood that Venson-Moitoi had wanted all BDP suspended MPs and the fired ones to be forgiven and brought back to the party.
She also wanted the party to go back on the decision to continue with disciplinary hearings.
Soon after Venson-Moitoi announced her ambition to challenge Masisi last December, the BDP under the incumbent started a series of purges against her followers and that of former leader Ian Khama.
Samson Guma Moyo of Tati East was expelled while Lerala-Maunatlala and Tati West MPs Prince Maele and Biggie Butale respectively were suspended from the party.
Maele will contest elections as an independent candidate while Guma and Butale who is the BPF’s convener, will stand under the BPF ticket. It is understood that Venson-Moitoi and the BPF are secretly holding talks and if she decides to join the new movement, she will be its president. The BPF will hold its inaugural congress in two weeks’ time in Kanye. The purpose of the congress is to elect the National Executive Committee (NEC).
The BDP Communications sub committee spokesperson, Kagelelo Kentse said the BDP has been reaching out to disgruntled members after the controversial Kang Congress.
“What I know is that the party has been reaching out to members who were unhappy with certain decisions and some who did not support President Mokgweetsi Masisi when going to Kang,” he said. “We had made peace with some members and they had started to be active in the party. We are rebuilding our party.”
With regard to the Venson-Moitoi issue, Kentse said he is not aware of any developments in the matter as the party leadership handled it.
“The only thing that I know is that they had been a meeting. One thing I am aware of is that Venson-Moitoi is still a democrat in good standing,” he said.