BDP Ignores Khama's Diatribe
Koketso Kgoboge | Monday May 6, 2019 12:37
It was at this meeting that Khama and his supporters took turns to disparage and de-campaign the ruling party and its leaders.
The open meeting attracted thousands of party members and tribal leaders at the Serowe Showgrounds. At worst, the BDP leadership particularly took a battering for pursuing “politics of the stomach.” The party was literally torn to shreds.
Party spokesperson, Kagelelo Banks Kentse said the party does not intend to make any statement nor take any step on the former president and what he discussed at his meeting.
“So far, we don’t want to talk about the meeting addressed by former president Khama. He is a former president, and he is a member of the BDP and we respect what he said. He has been saying it all along, and we would respect his decisions,” Kentse said.
Last Saturday, Khama announced to Bangwato from the vast Central District about his impending resignation from the ruling party that was formed amongst others by his late father, Sir Seretse Khama.
He even pleaded with Bangwato from the entire territory to ditch the BDP for a political formation that he will be part of in two to three weeks time.
In his over an hour speech, Khama attacked his successor Mokgweetsi Masisi, Vice President and party chairperson, Slumber Tsogwane and Permanent Secretary to the President, Carter Morupisi for making his political life unbearable.
He said the trio was responsible for causing problems within the party and rendering the ruling BDP undemocratic. He said Masisi and Tsogwane are intolerant and harass their opponents and people that are closer to him. He said Tsogwane, Bobonong’s parliamentary candidate Francis Kgoboko, Sefhare-Ramokgonami legislator, Dorcas Makgato and other party leaders were untruthful and practising “politics of the stomach.”
Khama blamed the current leadership for rigging the primary elections. He said many members had resorted to contesting as independent candidates as they were cheated. He said the BDP leadership was also disregarding the party constitution because they want to cling to power. He said the BDP has lost direction, and he called to the people that gathered at the Serowe Showgrounds not to vote for the party under the current regime.
“Many of the party leaders are not trustworthy. They speak badly about the President Masisi behind his back and the next day they are out in videos supporting him. That is politics of the stomach,” he said.
“We can’t have leaders like that. The BDP has lost direction, and I cannot continue being a member of this party under its current state,” he added.
He threatened to go around the central region de-campaigning some of the targeted parliamentary BDP candidates amongst them Tsogwane, Sefhare-Ramokgonami MP, Makgato, Bobirwa parliamentary candidate, Kgoboko, amongst others.
He encouraged Bangwato to rally behind his new political initiatives and enjoy a peaceful atmosphere outside what he termed rigid and undemocratic policies encouraged by Masisi and his cohorts.